‘Temples are built today, so that one could loot’, Renuka Chowdhury stirs ups row with Ram Mandir remark

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury sparked a major controversy with her remarks on Wednesday, alleging that temples are being built today with an intention to “loot”, a comment made in reference to the Ram Mandir while asserting that those responsible behind siphoning off donations, would eventually face the consequences.

Her comments came while responding to a question on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report into alleged irregularities in donations and materials related to the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Speaking to IANS, Chowdhury said that outcome of SIT report was something she had expected and claimed that while smaller individuals are punished, influential people are being protected.

Referring to the reported recovery of fake silver in place of real silver, she said, “We already knew that small individuals will be punished while big names will be saved.”

Further scaling up criticism, the Congress leader said, “I remember there was a TV serial in which a bank was looted and nobody has any idea.”

She then made her controversial remark about temples, saying, “Today, all temples are being built so that we can loot, and they think Ram ji will stay there and nobody will ever know.”

Chowdhury, however, added that those involved should not assume that their actions would remain undiscovered.

“They forgot that Maryada Purushottam Ram cannot be played with. They will face the consequences,” she remarked.

Her remarks come amid a wider political debate over the Ram temple and allegations of financial or material irregularities connected with temple-related works.

Chowdhury also criticised the BJP over the Vande Mataram controversy and accused the ruling party of diverting attention from public issues.

On allegations surrounding Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and the national song, she said such claims were being used to “hide their own failures” and portray the Opposition as being at fault.

She also defended the Congress and said that political parties should focus on issues concerning students and young people rather than making what she described as baseless allegations.

Speaking in defence of Rahul Gandhi, Chowdhury said that his actions were driven by concern for the country and that it’s the people who will ultimately decide the country’s political future.

IANS