NewsKeyword – Congress Demands Fair Investigation Into Ram Mandir Donation Case
NewsKeyword – The Congress on Saturday stepped up its criticism of the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and the Central government over the alleged misuse of donations collected for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Senior party leaders Pawan Khera and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called for an independent investigation, saying the matter should be examined without political influence and that those responsible must face legal action.
Congress Questions Temple Trust Oversight
Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera raised concerns about the management structure of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. He claimed that key individuals associated with the trust have close links to the Prime Minister and the RSS, making the allegations of financial irregularities a matter of serious public interest.
Khera pointed out that the issue did not originate from political opponents but from within the temple administration itself. Referring to Mahipal Singh, he alleged that the individual who reported the suspected diversion of donation funds was removed instead of being protected or heard. According to Khera, this development raises questions about transparency and accountability in the handling of temple finances.
Demand for Accountability
The Congress leader also questioned where the alleged missing donation money had gone and urged authorities to identify everyone involved, regardless of their position. He argued that seeking answers about financial wrongdoing should not be interpreted as criticism of religious beliefs.
Khera further alleged that faith was being misused to divert attention from serious allegations. He maintained that religion should never become a shield against investigation and insisted that any claims of financial misconduct deserve a fair and unbiased inquiry.
Priyanka Gandhi Calls for Independent Probe
Earlier in the day, Congress General Secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also reacted to the controversy through a post on X. She described the allegations as deeply disturbing, noting that millions of devotees place immense trust and faith in Lord Ram and the Ayodhya temple.
Priyanka Gandhi stated that if the reported financial irregularities are proven, responsibility should not be limited to lower-level staff alone. She suggested that the investigation should determine whether senior individuals played any role and emphasized that no attempt should be made to suppress the truth. She urged authorities to conduct a transparent inquiry and ensure strict action against anyone found guilty.
Trust Officials Resign After FIR
The Congress leaders’ remarks came a day after Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned, accepting moral responsibility following allegations linked to the handling of temple donations.
Their resignations followed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The Uttar Pradesh government directed the filing of the case, which names Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Tinnu Yadav, Manish Yadav, and several others.
SIT Investigating Donation Allegations
The case gained momentum after former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey alleged that donation funds ranging between Rs 7.5 crore and Rs 27 crore had been misappropriated from the Ram Mandir.
Following these allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 14 after receiving a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The SIT has been tasked with conducting a detailed investigation into the alleged financial irregularities, while political attention on the issue continues to grow as parties await the findings of the official probe.