Congress demands Supreme Court-monitored probe into Ram Temple donation theft; Rathore, Vikramaditya target BJP
Kuldeep Singh
Shimla, July 4
The Congress in Himachal Pradesh on Friday intensified its attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the alleged theft of donations from the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, demanding that the case be investigated under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.
Addressing a press conference in Shimla, All India Congress Committee (AICC) national spokesperson and Theog MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore alleged that the matter was not merely about Rs 100 or Rs 200 crore, but could involve offerings worth “thousands of crores of rupees.” He demanded a high-level, impartial investigation to bring the truth before the country and ensure strict action against those responsible.
Rathore said the Ram Temple is a centre of faith for millions of devotees and that the alleged theft of offerings had hurt the religious sentiments of 1.4 billion Indians. “The matter should be investigated by an impartial agency to uncover the truth behind the incident,” he said.
Questioning the Special Investigation Team constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government, Rathore said it comprised government-nominated officials, raising doubts about the impartiality of the probe. He alleged that attempts were being made to suppress the case and protect those involved.
Highlighting the security arrangements at the temple complex, Rathore said more than 400 security personnel are deployed there and CCTV cameras monitor the entire complex. “If such a theft has occurred despite such tight security, a thorough investigation is necessary and those responsible must be held accountable,” he said.
The Congress leader further alleged that the Ram Temple trust had deliberately been kept outside the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act. He claimed the temple was constructed in haste for electoral gains, resulting in construction flaws, and alleged that the trust managing the temple was handed over to individuals close to the ruling party while remaining beyond public scrutiny.
Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh also demanded that the investigation be conducted under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge, alleging that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was “their puppet.”
Launching a sharp attack on the BJP, Singh said, “The saffron-clad BJP leaders who didn’t spare Lord Ram, how will they spare the people of Himachal. They will suck out both their blood and money.”
He further alleged that the BJP had “looted all the money in the name of the Ram Temple” and asserted that only an independent probe under the supervision of a sitting Supreme Court judge could inspire public confidence.
The Congress leaders accused the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh of attempting to shield the culprits and demanded a transparent investigation into the alleged Ram Temple donation theft to establish accountability.
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