Ram temple donation case: Congress questions RSS, asks why agencies are silent on ‘big thieves’

Continuing its attack on the Narendra Modi government over the alleged misappropriation of donations from the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Congress on Saturday, July 4, 2026, asked why the central investigating agencies did not take action against the “big thieves” in the case.

The party also said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) cannot absolve itself of responsibility by merely issuing a statement.

Addressing a press conference, Uttar Pradesh Congress Legislative Assembly Party leader Aradhana Misra dismissed RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale’s statement on the alleged theft of temple offerings as “crocodile tears”.

Ms. Misra said “while they (Congress) worshiped Lord Ram, the BJP were merchants and did business in the name of Lord Ram.” He alleged that the BJP and RSS were now trying to distance themselves from the debate through a “scripted statement” and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue.

Ms Misra said senior functionaries of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust were associated with RSS and the alleged bid theft took place under their supervision. Naming Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and Gopal Rao, he asked whether these officials heading the Foundation were linked to the RSS and if the organization was truly upset by the incident, why no action was taken against them.

He also questioned why no FIR was registered against senior Wakf officials and why those responsible for overseeing the administration of the temple were not held accountable. He claimed that while lower-level employees were arrested, higher-level officials of the Foundation were protected.

Targeting the BJP government, Ms. Misra asked why agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and Income Tax Department had not taken action despite what she described as large-scale financial irregularities in connection with the temple.

He alleged that there was no proper accounting of the offerings received from devotees across the country, including around 1,250 Ram Shilas and jewelery worth millions of rupees, and noted that the Trust was kept outside the ambit of the Right to Information Act.

Referring to the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya judgment dated November 9, 2019, Ms. Misra said the apex court gave the responsibility to the Union government to facilitate the construction of the temple and the formation of the Foundation. Therefore, he argued, both the Center and the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh cannot escape responsibility for the alleged irregularities.

Accusing the BJP of using Lord Ram’s name for political purposes, Ms. Misra reiterated the Congress’ demand for an inquiry into the matter under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge.