NEW DELHI, July 11: The Congress on Saturday claimed that the findings of the SIT probing the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya were “just the tip of the iceberg” and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue.
The party also sought a Supreme Court-monitored judicial probe into the donation row, calling for accountability from those responsible.
Addressing a press conference at the Delhi Congress office, Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the matter warranted an independent and credible probe to restore public confidence.
He also sought immediate action against those responsible, questioned the restructuring of the temple trust with eminent and independent members, and sought a forensic audit of the trust’s accounts from its inception.
“If the intention is to restore public trust, there should be a judicial inquiry led by a very senior person from the Supreme Court whose name itself inspires confidence. There should also be a forensic audit of the Trust’s accounts from the time it was established till today,” Singhvi said.
He alleged that the arrests made so far were limited to lower-level functionaries and questioned why no senior officials had been held accountable.
“The real question is not who committed the theft, but who allowed it to happen under their noses. There are MoUs and SOPs between the State Bank of India and the Trust. Yet, no responsibility has been fixed beyond the lowest level,” he said.
Referring to findings of what he described as Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) preliminary audit, Singhvi alleged that a large amount had been spent on functions organised by the Trust, including around Rs 113 crore on the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 22 in 2024 and over Rs 10 crore on a flag-hoisting event held later that year.
He claimed these findings represented only the “tip of the iceberg.” Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav questioned Modi’s silence, saying that it was unacceptable if an incident affecting a place of deep religious faith did not elicit a response from the country’s leadership.
“This is not merely a case of financial irregularity or embezzlement of crores. It is an attack on the faith of Hindus. The entire matter should be investigated under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge,” Yadav said.
DISSOLVE TRUST: CONGRESS
The Congress on Saturday demanded the dissolution of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and constitution of a new body with seers, as well as a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the alleged theft of donations from the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
The party also said the ruling BJP had betrayed Lord Ram and used the deity for political gains.
The BJP is now shielding alleged financial irregularities linked to the Ram Temple, Congress spokesman Atul Londhe Patil told reporters here.
“We demand dissolution of the trust. There should be a Supreme Court monitored probe by a sitting apex court judge,” he said.
‘THEFT A DISGRACE, WE FEEL HUMILIATED’: CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Ram Temple Construction Committee Chairman Nripendra Mishra on Saturday said the alleged donation theft at the Ayodhya temple was a disgraceful blot (kalank), and everyone felt utterly humiliated because of it.He expressed confidence, however, that the temple management system would be improved to avoid a repeat of such incidents.
Mishra arrived in Ayodhya on Friday for the first day of the Ram Temple Construction Committee’s meeting.
“This (alleged donation theft) is a disgrace, and we all are not just apologetic but feeling humiliated and let down by it,” Mishra told reporters ahead of the second day of the committee’s meeting.
“This is (now) an issue about temple management, and the management would surely be improved to guard against a repeat of this (alleged donation theft),” he said.
Mishra, who was among the first to raise the demand for the appointment of a temple trust CEO, said a high-level committee has been set up to suggest a suitable name.
There are speculations that the trust may be open to appointing a woman CEO, but Mishra didn’t comment on it.
“You are aware, a (retired) judge is heading the committee for the appointment of a CEO. It will submit its recommendations to the trust, which will take a call on the issue,” he said. (PTI)
