Congress Demands Supreme Court-Monitored Probe Into Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Theft Case

Congress leader KC Venugopal on Saturday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the alleged embezzlement of donations collected for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, claiming the matter has deeply hurt the faith of millions of devotees.

Speaking to reporters, Venugopal alleged that funds and valuables donated for the temple had been misappropriated and questioned the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue.

Congress Questions Centre's Silence

Venugopal described the alleged embezzlement as one of the biggest instances of misuse of temple donations in the country and said the Congress would continue raising the issue both inside and outside Parliament.

"We are raising and will continue to raise the issue across the country. This has affected crores of believers. But the Prime Minister and the Home Minister remain silent," he said.

The Congress leader added that the party would seek answers from the government during the upcoming Parliament session.

Demand for Supreme Court-Monitored Investigation

Venugopal questioned the decision to constitute only a Special Investigation Team (SIT) by the Uttar Pradesh Police, alleging that such a probe would not be sufficient.

He claimed that only an investigation monitored by the Supreme Court could ensure accountability and identify those responsible.

According to him, the existing probe may not uncover the full extent of the alleged irregularities.

Allegations Over Temple Donations

The Congress leader alleged that organisations associated with the Sangh Parivar, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), had collected donations from devotees for over two decades in the name of constructing the Ram Temple.

He further alleged that cash and gold donated by devotees had been looted and claimed the alleged irregularities occurred with the knowledge of office-bearers linked to the temple trust.

These allegations have not been independently verified, and no judicial findings establishing these claims were cited.

Congress Says Issue Is About Faith

Venugopal asserted that the matter was not a political issue for the Congress but one concerning the faith of millions of devotees.

He accused the BJP and RSS of exploiting religious sentiments for political purposes and alleged that the reported embezzlement amounted to an attack on devotees' trust.

He also questioned the silence of the BJP's Kerala unit on the matter and claimed similar allegations were emerging regarding other prominent temples, including Badrinath and Kedarnath.

Political Row Likely to Continue

The allegations are expected to trigger political exchanges in the coming days, with the Congress indicating it will continue pressing for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation during the Parliament session.

The Uttar Pradesh Police have already constituted an SIT to investigate the alleged financial irregularities, while the Congress maintains that an independent, court-supervised probe is necessary.

Featured Snippet

Congress leader KC Venugopal has demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donations in Ayodhya. He questioned the Centre's silence, criticised the Uttar Pradesh Police SIT as inadequate, and said the Congress would raise the issue in Parliament.

Key Highlights

• Congress demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement.
• KC Venugopal questioned the silence of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister.
• The Congress criticised the Uttar Pradesh Police SIT, calling it insufficient.
• Venugopal alleged donations collected over two decades were misappropriated.
• The party said it would raise the issue during the upcoming Parliament session.

Conclusion

The alleged Ram Temple donation theft has become a fresh political flashpoint, with the Congress demanding a Supreme Court-monitored investigation and questioning the Centre's response. While an SIT is already probing the matter, the opposition insists that only an independent judicially supervised investigation can establish accountability. The issue is likely to remain a key point of debate in the upcoming Parliament session.

FAQs

1. What did KC Venugopal demand?

He demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the alleged embezzlement of Ram Temple donations.

2. Why is Congress criticising the current probe?

The party says the Uttar Pradesh Police SIT may not independently identify all those responsible and has called for judicial oversight.

3. What allegations has Congress made?

Congress alleged that donations collected over several years for the Ram Temple were misappropriated and questioned the role of those associated with the temple's administration. These remain allegations and have not been established in court.

4. Has the government responded?

The article does not mention any official response from the Centre to the latest allegations.

5. Will the issue be raised in Parliament?

Yes. KC Venugopal said the Congress plans to seek answers from the government during the upcoming Parliament session.