Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday attacked the BJP-led government, saying they came to power “using the name of Lord Ram” and added that God will now expel them. His remarks came amid the ongoing controversy linked to the alleged theft of donations for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
The AAP president is currently in Ayodhya and also visited the temple on Friday. He called for a social boycott of those accused of involvement in the alleged embezzlement of donations.
Read also: ‘False narrative’, Champat Rai’s aide arrested, Babri Masjid question: How the row over Ram temple donations escalated
“I appeal to the community whether the law is enacted or not, we will ensure that the law does its job. Lord Ram will also punish those responsible… Those who are ‘donation thieves’ and those who support them socially must be boycotted. Otherwise, you too will become complicit in this sin,” Kejriwal told reporters in Ayodhya.
“They (BJP) came to power in the name of Lord Ram, and now Ram himself will oust them,” he added.
The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony for idol Ram Lalla was held in January 2024 and was attended by thousands of guests. Months later, the BJP-led NDA won a landslide victory in the general elections, coming to power for the third time in a row.
Kejriwal’s visit to Ram Mandir, big allegations
Commenting on his visit to the Ram temple this morning, Kejriwal said he vowed not to rest “until these devils are hanged.” When asked about the filing of an FIR and the arrest of eight people in connection with the donation case, Kejriwal said it was just nonsense. “Eight junior employees have been arrested. Attempts are being made to protect senior officials,” he said.
Kejriwal further claimed that press reports indicated a decline in daily donations at the temple from all quarters $12-14 lakh to below $1 lakh after the controversy, claiming that public confidence has been shaken.
A day earlier, Kejriwal had alleged that valuables, including sandals, jewellery, garlands and lamps donated to Lord Ram, were stolen from the temple. “Diamonds and precious stones offered by devotees to God have been stolen. $200 crore cash was stolen and even 200 kg silver was stolen.”
He also dismissed the Special Investigation Committee probing the Ram temple donation scam as an eyewash and legally invalid. “What are the secrets that Champat Rai knows that even the Prime Minister is helpless against? On the other hand, the Special Investigation Team is deceiving millions of Hindus,” Kejriwal told the media at Lucknow airport on Thursday.
Champat Rai is the General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. He was questioned by the Special Investigation Team in connection with the donation case last week.
