The Congress on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over alleged financial irregularities in donations to the Ayodhya Ram Temple, questioning his “silence” and demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the matter.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal alleged that the Prime Minister’s silence on the alleged embezzlement exposed the BJP’s “double standards”, arguing that the party had come to power by championing the Ram temple movement but now refuses to act on what he described as a major scam.
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“The Prime Minister has a moral responsibility to act on this. One of the reasons he became the Prime Minister was the Ram temple issue. The biggest theft happened and you are illiterate. This clearly exposes the double standards of the BJP. They are using God for political gains,” Venugopal told news agency ANI.
His remarks came a day after he wrote to Modi seeking a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the alleged donation scam, claiming that the ‘Chanda Chori’ at the Ayodhya temple had “shocked the nation” and amounted to a betrayal of the faith of millions of devotees.
Venugopal also questioned the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe ordered by the Uttar Pradesh government, saying it could not conduct an impartial investigation since the Center had constituted the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
“The Temple Trust was nominated by the Union government. Now the SIT is investigating; they cannot investigate this matter honestly. It is very clear that the big fish is being protected,” he claimed.
Venugopal attacks Yogi
The Congress leader also targeted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for criticizing those raising questions about alleged financial irregularities.
He added: “After the theft, you criticize those who question the theft. This means you justify the people who committed this theft. There should be an impartial investigation monitored by the Supreme Court. Let the CBI investigate under the supervision of the Supreme Court.”
Meanwhile, the Faizabad Bar Association has filed a complaint with the Ayodhya Police, naming Mr. Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra, former general secretary of Champat Rai Trust, former trustee Anil Mishra and director Gopal Rao, among others, in connection with the alleged financial irregularities. The association also sought registration of a new FIR, claiming new facts have emerged in the case.
The controversy erupted after an FIR was registered on June 25 over alleged misappropriation of Ram temple donations.
Following this, former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Champat Rai Foundation general secretary and former trustee Anil Mishra resigned, taking moral responsibility for the controversy.
The Uttar Pradesh government later extended the tenure of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) by 15 days to broaden the scope of its investigation, while police continue to record statements of key individuals as part of the ongoing investigation.
(with ANI inputs)
