Big names being protected, claims Oppn on Ram Temple embezzlement row

New Delhi: Opposition leaders on Friday accused the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of “shielding big names” in the controversy over the alleged theft of donations at Ayodhya’s Ram Temple.

The reactions came after an FIR was lodged against eight people in the case and following the resignations of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and Trust member Anil Mishra.

Addressing reporters after his visit to the Ram Temple, AAP national Convener Arvind Kejriwal said: “The very people who committed the theft have to take action in the matter. Obviously, they will not act against themselves. They are trying to completely shield themselves.”

“A fake Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted, and now a fake FIR has been registered. In that fake FIR, only eight small pawns have been made accused. There are no big names in it,” he added.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said it is for the first time in India’s history that a “scam” has taken place in donations made at a temple.

Referring to Champat Rai’s resignation, he said: “Just resigning won’t work. Champat Rai had the entire responsibility to look over the functioning, but people close to him are involved in the irregularities.”

“He (Rai) and Anil Mishra should also be made accused, and an FIR should be lodged against them too,” Singh said.

Congress leader Rajeev Shukla called the alleged embezzlement a “betrayal”, demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe.

“If such an act has been taking place for a long time despite the presence of CCTV cameras, then big names must be involved in it,” Shukla told IANS.

CPI General Secretary D. Raja criticised the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, saying: “Yogi Adityanath claims that his government has zero tolerance for corruption. He should be truthful to the people, to the country and to Lord Ram, in whom he believes.”

“What has surfaced today is just the tip of the iceberg. The truth must come out. That is why the CPI has demanded a high-level judicial inquiry,” he echoed.

Echoing a similar view, Samajwadi Party MLA Ravidas Mehrotra said: “An investigation has taken place, but Champat Rai’s name has not been included in the FIR, who is the main accused. The government is trying to protect him.”

“Now Champat Rai has resigned. There should be an investigation under whose orders and instructions he was carrying out this theft,” Mehrotra told IANS.

“Uttar Pradesh CM is also responsible for the incident, and we demand his resignation,” he added.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra said: “There is no audit trail or receipt of crores of donations at the temple despite the issue being flagged by auditors in 2020.”

She said that the government should be answerable for the alleged missing funds as millions of Hindu devotees have placed their faith on the Ram Temple.

“Multiple kilos of gold, silver, 200 crores of cash, padukas, and the necklace of the Lord are also missing. These are eight small-time people who have been arrested,” she told reporters.

IANS