Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge demand independent probe into Ram Temple donation theft

Opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for an independent and comprehensive investigation into the finances of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The letter alleges that thousands of crores worth of cash, gold and silver donated by devotees at the Ayodhya Ram temple have been embezzled, leaving “lakhs of devotees … feeling betrayed by the theft.”

The leaders contend that the Trust’s members were appointed solely by the central government and are linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), noting that its former general secretary was a close associate of the prime minister. They demand that the investigation be transparent, that all accounts and the handling of offerings be made public, and that anyone found responsible be held accountable regardless of position.

The controversy surfaced in early June, prompting the Uttar Pradesh government to form a Special Investigation Team, the arrest of eight individuals and the resignation of two senior Trust officials. The opposition regards the prime minister’s silence on the matter as unacceptable and urges swift action to restore public confidence.