Congress leader and former Union Minister Pawan Bansal has called for the immediate dissolution of the Ram Mandir Trust, alleging a scam involving the theft of donations and offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Speaking at a press conference in Shimla on July 12, 2026, Bansal questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the issue and demanded that the trust be replaced with non-political individuals, including Shankaracharyas and prominent religious saints.
Allegations of theft and cover-up
Bansal alleged that the actual perpetrators of the crime were being protected, while junior employees had been arrested. He claimed that norms and protocols at the temple were gradually relaxed, and warnings about the scam were ignored. “It shows that it’s not the handiwork of junior employees who have been arrested but someone big is involved,” he said.
Demand for PM Modi's apology
Bansal demanded that Prime Minister Modi apologize for the incident on the first day of the monsoon session in Parliament and assure the public that strict action would be taken. He criticized the BJP, RSS, and associated organizations for collecting money from across the country for the temple but failing to provide answers about the fraud.
Call for non-political trust
Bansal emphasized that the trust should be dissolved immediately and replaced with a body comprising non-political individuals, Shankaracharyas, and prominent religious saints, keeping the government and political parties completely out of it. This, he argued, would restore the lost trust and faith of Lord Rama’s devotees.
