Congress Leaders Demand Probe into Ayodhya Ram Temple Trust

On Sunday, senior Congress figures Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, pressing the government to launch an independent and thorough probe into the alleged siphoning of donations meant for the Ayodhya Ram Temple.

The two leaders said that millions of devotees, who had contributed hard‑earned money to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, now feel "betrayed by the theft". They described the prime minister’s silence on the matter as "unacceptable" and urged swift action.

Gandhi and Kharge asked the Centre to examine every facet of the Trust’s finances – from cash deposits to the handling of gold and silver offerings – and to make the Trust’s accounts and the investigation’s findings available to the public. Their aim, they said, is to restore confidence and ensure that no one is above the law.

The controversy erupted in early June when an FIR—filed by the Trust itself—alleged that some senior functionaries had misappropriated donations. So far, eight individuals have been arrested and two senior officials have resigned. The FIR was registered on June 25.

The letter also reminded the government that the Trust was set up after the Supreme Court’s directives, with its members appointed by the Centre. Consequently, the Congress leaders insisted that anyone found culpable, regardless of rank or influence, should face appropriate accountability.

While the opposition waits for a response, the episode has already sparked heated debate across the political spectrum, with various parties and community groups calling for total transparency in the handling of the sacred fund.