Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on Saturday targeted the Central government over the alleged donation row at Ayodhya Ram Mandir, raising several questions.
Speaking to the media, Moitra referred to the donations $3500 Crores without audit trail. She also asked where all the gold and silver donated by the worshipers went.
“In 2020, the auditors actually indicated that you look at the donations that are coming in. These are initial donations. $3,500 crores of initial donations have reached, and there is no receipt at all. Secondly, what is missing? You have 70 kilos of silver and 1,250 kilos of gold $200 crores in cash. Now, they say that the paduka and the Lord’s pendant are also missing. “You have the Sindhi community who are very vocal, saying they donated 200 silver bricks each weighing a kilogram, and they have no idea where they went,” Moitra told the media.
The Krishnagar MP inquired about the eight people arrested in the case so far, describing them as “minor”.
“Who are these eight young people whom you have arrested? This trust is being taken care of by the Prime Minister. Yogiji says don’t politicize the issue. Millions of Hindu devotees have put their trust in you, and this is what you are doing? Where is the money? Champat Rai this is now, what have you been doing?” She added.
The TMC leader also targeted Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying: “Wherever he goes, something disappears.”
Champat Rai’s resignation confirmed
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Fund on Saturday It confirmed that it had received the resignation of its general secretary, Champat Rai, and trustee, Anil Mishra, amid an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in donations to the temple.
In a press release published by the Trust, the temple authority said it was “shocked, pained and deeply saddened by the events that have come to light at Shri Ram Temple (Ayodhya) over the past few days.” She added that, as “representatives of all Lord Ram’s devotees and volunteers serving here”, she was “committed to ensuring a fair investigation and reassuring the devotees”.
“The Trust has received a letter of resignation from Shri Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirth Kshetra (Trust) and Trustee Shri Anil Mishra. The statement said that the Fund will consider the matter at its next meeting.
Trust confirms that donations are “safe”
To reassure devotees about the offerings made to the temple, the Foundation said, “The Foundation assures devotees who have personally handed over silver bricks, ornaments and other items to the officials of the Foundation as offerings to serve Lord Shri Ram that these items are available safely along with proper records.”
Regarding the alleged irregularities related to temple donations, she said: “With regard to the incident related to money received through temple donation funds, based on the interim report submitted by the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Uttar Pradesh administration at the request of the Trust, the Trust has lodged an FIR, and legal proceedings are underway.”
The foundation also said: “We assure everyone that necessary steps will be taken to ensure that such unfortunate situations do not arise in the future. The guilty will receive strict punishment in accordance with the law and will serve as a deterrent.”
She further asserted that “anti-social, irreligious and self-serving elements will not be allowed to succeed in their attempts to distort Sanatan Dharma” and urged people to protect themselves from “the spread of misleading and baseless rumours”.
“These clouds will pass, the darkness will recede, the light of truth will prevail, and the powerful stream of devotion to Lord Ram will continue to flow without interruption,” the statement concluded.
