New Delhi [India], June 26 (ANI): Congress MP K C Venugopal on Friday accused the BJP-RSS of “looting” donations made to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and demanded an independent investigation headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge into the matter.
In a post on X, Venugopal wrote, “The self proclaimed protectors of Hinduism have been completely exposed with the revelations of the theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.”
He alleged that recent revelations show donations at the temple have been stolen, undermining BJP-RSS claims of safeguarding Hindu interests. He contrasted the Centre’s strict FCRA regulations on registered trusts with what he called unchecked freedom for unregistered groups like the RSS.
“After using Ayodhya for their divisive politics, the BJP-RSS looted from donations of ordinary devotees and make a complete mockery of their sentiments. On the one hand, the BJP wants to controlled registered trusts through draconian FCRA rules, while completely unregistered entities like the RSS are free to loot and plunder the temples of our country,” Venugopal stated.
The Congress leader claimed the current FIR shields top trustees and only targets lower-level functionaries in the case.
“The Sangh Parivar’s farce of being true Hindus is even further exposed because the FIR registered currently does not even name the trustees who were entrusted with temple funds. Instead, the UP Police SIT has only identified low-level office bearers without implicating those at the top of this mega racket,” he said.
“Only an independent investigation headed by a sitting Supreme Court judge will unearth the magnitude of this temple loot,” Venugopal added.
Earlier in the day, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and member trustee Anil Mishra have resigned, taking moral responsibility in connection with the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case, sources said.
The developments came after a First Information Report was registered in the alleged embezzlement of donations received at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The case has been filed under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 306, 316(5), 317(4), 317(5), 61 and 3(5), on the directions of the Uttar Pradesh Government.
Those who have been named in the FIR are: Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, Avinash Shukla, Tinnu Yadav, Manish Yadav and others.
This action followed allegations by former SP MLA from Ayodhya, Pawan Pandey, who claimed that between Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore in donations were misappropriated from the Ram Mandir.
In response to these claims, the state government constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 14 to probe the alleged scam, acting on a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. (ANI)
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