Launching a blistering attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Congress on Saturday categorically stated that the two entities cannot distance themselves from the matter and that Lord Ram’s devotees won’t forgive them.
Addressing a press conference, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader in Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Aradhana Misra, alleged that under the supervision of people affiliated with the BJP-RSS, the grave sin of stealing offerings has been committed in the Ram Temple.
In an apparent reference to RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale’s remarks on the matter, she said, “The RSS people cannot escape their responsibility just by reading messages from a teleprompter. The BJP-RSS has deceived devotees and these people are not Lord Ram’s ‘priests’ but merchants.”
Earlier, Hosabale had said that the theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple has ‘deeply hurt’ the sentiments and faith of society and called for stringent punishment against anyone found guilty.
“The RSS can’t distance itself from this grave sin by merely expressing sorrow over the theft. Today, the RSS, which is trying to portray itself as having nothing to do with this theft, should clarify whether Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao are not affiliated with it? Why has no FIR been filed against these individuals so far?” the Congress leader asked.
Stating that the Ram Temple has always only been an electoral issue for the BJP, which was finally constructed following the Supreme Court’s order, she said, “The BJP government cannot shy away from its responsibility. Crores of rupees in offerings at the Ram Temple have been stolen, but the ED, IT and CBI are nowhere to be seen.”
Misra said employees arrested in the theft case were marginal workers who were employed by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust itself.
“These were the same employees whose list was provided by the Trust itself to SBI, and the bank had deployed them through an agency. Meaning, the Trust had appointed people of its own choosing to work there through SBI and the agency. No investigation was conducted on these people, nor was any scrutiny done regarding their backgrounds,” she said.
The Congress leader further said, “In such a situation, after the theft of donations, an investigation was carried out on these small employees, but those sitting at the top were let off.”
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said, “Such a massive sin has occurred, yet PM Narendra Modi remains silent.”
“Not just the Opposition, but even the BJP’s supporters acknowledge that the RSS people are involved in this loot. Before the theft of offerings at the Ram Temple, a land scam was carried out and people filled their pockets. Today, the BJP-RSS wants to shed crocodile tears and distance itself from this matter, but Lord Ram’s devotees and residents of Ayodhya will not forgive them,” she said.
Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “As it turns out, not only were donations meant for Ram Mandir looted, commissions of up to 40 per cent were extorted as well. The double-engine police in Uttar Pradesh apparently slept while this mafia operated right under its nose.”
EC enabler of ‘vote & seat thefts’
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said the INDIA bloc’s letter to the Chief Justice of India raised ‘specific concerns’ over the Election Commission’s special intensive revision process
He accused the Election Commission of enabling the ‘theft of votes and seats’ and claimed that many people now believed election outcomes were predetermined
Ramesh accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of ‘hypocrisy’ and alleged that the Election Commission was acting at the behest of the Centre
