The Congress party on Monday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, asking how he would “stand before Lord Ram” after reports suggested that warnings over suspected theft in the donation counting process had allegedly been ignored for months.
The party’s remarks came after reports indicated that the State Bank of India (SBI) had recommended the removal of members of the donation-counting staff nearly three months ago after suspecting irregularities in the handling of cash donations at the Ram Temple. According to the reports, the recommendation was not implemented after objections were raised by some officials associated with the temple trust.
Congress leader Pawan Khera’s statement
Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “First, donations made in the name of Lord Ram were stolen. Then, the employees who raised the alarm were silenced. Now, it is being alleged that the SBI had recommended the removal of the donation-counting staff because of theft suspicions three months ago. Even that warning was ignored...”
Khera further added, “The controversy has raised serious questions over accountability within the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, whose members had been chosen by the PM.”
Background of the controversy
The allegations of theft at the Ram Temple have been a subject of political debate. The SBI, which handles the counting of donations, reportedly flagged irregularities in the cash handling process three months ago and suggested removing certain staff members. However, the temple trust officials opposed the move, and the recommendation was not acted upon.
The Congress party has seized on the issue to attack the Modi government, demanding a thorough investigation and accountability from the trust. The party has also questioned the transparency of the donation collection and management process at the temple.
Impact and next steps
The controversy has put the spotlight on the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which oversees the temple construction and donation management. With the Congress calling for answers, the trust may face increased scrutiny. The SBI has not yet commented on the reports, and the trust has denied any wrongdoing.
As the political row escalates, the opposition is likely to continue pressing the government for a response. The incident also raises broader questions about the handling of public donations for religious projects.
