Congress questions PM’s silence over alleged Ram temple donation theft

The Congress on Saturday (June 27, 2026) stepped up its attack on the Union government and the Uttar Pradesh government over the alleged embezzlement of donations made to the Ram temple in Ayodhya, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue.

The party reiterated its demand to dissolve the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

The Prime Minister owed an explanation to devotees across the country as the Trust had been constituted by the Union government, and its members had been appointed under its watch, senior Congress leader Akhilesh Pratap Singh said, addressing a press conference in New Delhi.

“The entire nation, particularly those who have faith in Sanatan Dharma, wants to know who stole donations worth thousands of crores of rupees,” Mr. Singh said.

Despite serious accusations against members of the Trust, no action had been taken against them, he alleged.

The Congress demanded that the Trust be disbanded and all those facing prima facie allegations be arrested to ensure an impartial investigation. 

Mr. Singh also called for a probe under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Supreme Court.

Reports of irregularities had surfaced since the temple’s construction began, he alleged, referring to the controversy over land acquisitions in Ayodhya as well as the alleged diversion of donations. 

The internal inquiries commissioned by the Trust into earlier allegations were ignored, he said, questioning the removal of cash-counting agent Mahipal Singh after he reportedly flagged irregularities.

CCTV cameras had been removed and their footage deleted, Mr. Singh also alleged.

“The Trust has lost the trust of the people. Daily donations have reportedly fallen from ₹10 lakh-₹15 lakh to about ₹80,000 following reports of the alleged theft,” he said.

Speaking to journalists in Kerala’s Wayanad, Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha member Priyanka Gandhi Vadra described the allegations as “tragic” and “shameful”, saying people from across the country had contributed to the temple out of faith.

“People from all over the country, those who believe and those who have faith, gave donations, and now those donations have been stolen. It is tragic, it is shameful, and the government needs to inquire into what has happened, how it has happened, and why it has happened,” she said.

The responsibility also rested with those who had spearheaded the nationwide donation drive, Ms. Gandhi said.

“Women gave from their savings, poor people contributed from their homes. These are not just funds from big corporates; they were collected from ordinary citizens. If you collected them, it is your responsibility to keep them safe,” she said.

The Congress also accused the government of applying different standards, alleging that while Opposition leaders were subjected to investigations by Central agencies on “minor suspicions”, no comparable action had been taken against those facing allegations in the Ram temple donation case.