Ram Mandir embezzlement: Opposition steps up attack 

way2barak, June 28: Opposition leaders sharpened their attack on the BJP, RSS and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The BJP hit back, accusing its rivals of spreading lies even as the SIT probe into the case uncovered serious lapses in the temple’s donation management system.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra termed the alleged theft of devotees’ donations “tragic” and “shameful” and demanded a thorough probe by the Uttar Pradesh government.

“Who’s responsible? If you collected them, it’s your responsibility to keep them safe,” she added.

Congress leader Pawan Khera also targeted the government, saying “This is not merely a financial scandal. It is a betrayal of faith.”

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said the Congress would raise the issue in every village, with committees being formed from the ward to the district level.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi questioned the delay in registering the FIR and alleged that the main accused had been protected.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also targeted the BJP over its Hindutva politics, accusing it of betraying Hindus by exploiting their religious sentiments.

Responding to the Opposition’s criticism, Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya accused the Congress and the Samajwadi Party of spreading misinformation over the alleged donation embezzlement.

Maurya said action had already been initiated following the SIT probe.

“Following the SIT investigation, an FIR has been registered and arrests have been made. It is certain that the guilty will not be spared. But anti-Sanatan and anti-Ram forces do not refrain from displaying their malicious mindset.”

After the arrest of eight people associated with counting cash and valuables received as donations at the Ram temple, investigators have recovered nearly Rs 80 lakh in cash and some foreign currency from six of the accused.