Congress Demands Accountability Over Ram Temple Donations, Calls Accused ‘Chanda Chors’

NEW DELHI, Oct 27: The Congress on Tuesday intensified its criticism of the BJP-led government over alleged irregularities in donations received by the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, demanding an independent investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court and accountability for everyone found responsible.

Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh accused the authorities of failing to adequately address concerns about the handling of devotees’ offerings. He said the faith of worshippers could not be used as a justification for avoiding scrutiny of the temple trust’s financial affairs.

In a post on X, Ramesh called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ajay Singh Bisht to respond to the allegations. He questioned who was responsible for the suspected thefts, whether others were involved and why an impartial investigation had not been initiated under judicial supervision.

The Congress leader also sought explanations for alleged irregularities highlighted in audits, claims of commissions being extracted from construction contracts, the reported misappropriation of funds and the absence of receipts for certain valuable donations.

Ramesh argued that the investigation should examine the entire chain of responsibility rather than focus exclusively on lower-level employees.

Citing an audit firm’s assessment from November 2020, he said concerns about the trust’s administration had been raised within months of its formation on February 5 that year. According to him, the firm had recommended improvements in internal auditing, risk management and administrative procedures.

Ramesh said the assessment described the management as highly unprofessional and pointed to a lack of clearly defined responsibilities and systematic records of donations. It also reportedly highlighted shortcomings in staffing and data management.

The Congress leader said the firm had recommended standard operating procedures for handling data, managing personnel and maintaining a proper stock register of donations. He alleged that these recommendations had not been implemented even years later.

The party has questioned why corrective measures were not introduced despite the concerns reportedly being documented at an early stage.

Ramesh also referred to findings attributed to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the government in 2026. He claimed the investigation had acknowledged 105 instances in which cash was removed from a counting room, with employees allegedly obstructing CCTV cameras by standing in front of them.

The allegations have raised questions about the procedures used to count, record and safeguard offerings made by devotees. However, the claims cited by the Congress require assessment through the investigation and supporting evidence.

The opposition party has also highlighted allegations made by Dinanath Verma, an engineer associated with the temple construction. According to Ramesh, Verma claimed he was removed from his position after raising concerns about alleged financial irregularities.

Ramesh said the engineer had alleged that a commission of 40 per cent was being demanded in construction contracts, that fictitious workers were included in records and that material quantities were inflated in bills. These remain allegations and would require independent verification.

The Congress leader further questioned the reported absence of receipts for certain high-value donations. He said the investigation should establish whether valuable items were properly documented and whether the trust maintained complete records of the offerings it received.

He asked why action had not been taken when audit-related concerns were reportedly raised in 2020, why the individual who flagged alleged irregularities was removed and why receipts were not issued for some valuable contributions.

Ramesh also criticised those associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP, questioning whether the institutions responsible for overseeing the trust had adequately discharged their duties. He alleged that the authorities had failed to ensure sufficient safeguards for the donations.

The Congress leader said the investigation must determine whether the lapses resulted from negligence or whether any individuals deliberately protected those involved in wrongdoing.

He rejected the adequacy of the government-constituted SIT as an answer to the concerns raised by the party, arguing that serious questions remained despite the reported CCTV incidents and earlier complaints.

According to Ramesh, action against a few junior employees would not be sufficient if the investigation failed to examine the possible involvement of people holding positions of greater responsibility.

The Congress has consequently called for a comprehensive and transparent inquiry under the Supreme Court’s supervision. It wants investigators to examine the audit observations, alleged irregularities in construction contracts, the handling of cash and valuable offerings, and the responsibilities of all individuals involved in managing the trust.

The party has also demanded that the full extent of the alleged financial wrongdoing be established and that anyone found guilty face legal consequences.

The latest criticism follows another statement issued by the Congress on Sunday, when the party accused Modi of remaining silent on the allegations and failing to initiate a comprehensive investigation. It alleged that the government’s response amounted to protecting those suspected of wrongdoing.

The opposition party has also questioned the reported delay in registering a First Information Report (FIR). It claimed there was a gap of 21 days between June 4, when a video concerning the alleged theft was received by Champat Rai, the temple trust’s former general secretary, and the filing of the FIR.

The Congress has further alleged that influential figures, including Rai, have not been adequately scrutinised. It has called on the prime minister to address the issue publicly, arguing that the handling of donations requires greater transparency.

The allegations concern the management of contributions made by devotees to a religious institution that holds considerable public significance. Establishing the facts will require scrutiny of financial records, donation registers, audit findings, CCTV footage and the evidence gathered by investigators.

The BJP and the authorities concerned would have an opportunity to respond to the allegations and present their position as the matter develops. Allegations of wrongdoing should not be treated as established findings unless supported by evidence and determined through the appropriate legal process.

The Congress’s sustained campaign comes ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections expected early next year, giving the controversy added political significance.

Ramesh maintained that the central issue was the accountability of those entrusted with protecting the offerings. He said devotees’ contributions must be properly recorded and safeguarded, and that an independent investigation should establish the facts, identify responsibility and ensure that the law is applied to anyone found guilty.