Congress demands Supreme Court probe into Ram temple trust over donation theft claims

The Congress party has escalated its attack on the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, demanding its dissolution following serious allegations that donations collected for the Ayodhya temple were stolen or diverted. The opposition party is calling for an independent investigation overseen by the Supreme Court to uncover the full extent of the alleged financial misconduct.

Congress leaders have directly challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter, stating that the controversy demands accountability at the highest levels of government. The party has harshly criticised the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for issuing what it called a "shameful" clearance statement that failed to address the core allegations. Congress representatives argue that giving the RSS a clean bill of health without a thorough inquiry does nothing to restore public faith or address the concerns raised by donors who trusted the temple trust with their contributions.

The allegations centre on the trust's handling of public donations, with claims that significant portions of funds collected from devotees may have been misused or diverted rather than directed toward temple construction and maintenance. This has sparked considerable anger among the public, particularly those who donated in good faith believing their contributions would support the religious and cultural project.

The controversy threatens to damage the reputation of one of India's most significant religious institutions. For donors and devotees across the country, the allegations raise serious questions about transparency and financial governance at major religious trusts. The controversy also places pressure on the government to demonstrate independent oversight of large-scale religious fundraising efforts.

Congress leaders have indicated they will continue pressing this issue in parliament and before the judiciary, seeking formal investigations rather than internal organisational responses. The party views this as a test case for institutional accountability and transparency in how major religious trusts manage public donations. Political observers note that the issue may intensify ahead of major electoral cycles, with various parties likely to champion donor rights and financial accountability as campaign themes.

Source: TOI India