Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 24 (ANI): Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the recent Ram Mandir donation controversy, alleging that "no action" would be taken against thieves associated with the alleged controversy.
Raut levelled serious allegations against the ruling BJP government over the alleged misuse of land and funds in religious infrastructure projects, questioning the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat.
Addressing the press conferences, Raut said, "In this country, no action is taken against thieves, especially those associated with the BJP."
"Did Modi ji say something on the issue?... Union Home Minister Amit Shah said something...RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said something....The big leaders of the country are not speaking on matters related to temples and are sitting with their eyes, ears and mouth closed," he said.
Escalating his attack, the Rajya Sabha MP said that earlier BJP leaders had used historical references of invaders to target temple-related issues, but now, according to him, the situation had reversed.
"Earlier, BJP leaders used to use the names of Mahmood Ghaznavi and Babar to talk about loot in Somnath temple and Ayodhya. But now those names have been left behind, and Babar and Mahmood Ghaznavi have been born within the BJP," he alleged.
The remarks came after allegations were made by former SP MLA from Ayodhya, Pawan Pandey, who claimed that between ₹7 crore and ₹7.5 crore in donations were misappropriated from the Ram Mandir. Following the allegations, on June 14, the state government constituted a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged scam involving offerings made at the Ram Mandir, following a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Trust.
Raut also alleged "large-scale loot" in the name of development works at the Mahakal temple in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain and raised questions over land acquisition-related matters linked to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir project, claiming that those associated with the BJP were benefiting from projects tied to religious sentiments.
Meanwhile, a fresh petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored investigation into the alleged financial irregularities of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya.
The petition sought registration of an FIR and the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into the reported missing funds, financial irregularities, mismanagement, and other alleged illegalities concerning the affairs and administration of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. (ANI)
