The Congress on Tuesday intensified its attack on the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the alleged theft of donations meant for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, accusing them of attempting to "whitewash" the matter to shield the "real culprits". The opposition party demanded greater transparency in the management of temple donations and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to publicly address the controversy. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh described the alleged theft of donations at the Lord Shri Ram Temple as a "grave betrayal of the faith" of crores of devotees across the country.

In a post on X, he claimed that the action taken so far, including resignations and limited administrative measures, appeared to be an attempt to cover up the incident rather than uncover the full extent of the alleged wrongdoing. According to Ramesh, many people believe the steps taken so far are aimed at protecting those responsible for the alleged irregularities. He alleged that through resignations and other limited actions, efforts were being made to shield the "real culprits and big players" connected with the matter. The remarks come amid continued political scrutiny over the handling of donations received by the temple trust.

Reiterating the Congress party's demands, Ramesh called for the immediate dissolution of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and the formation of a new trust comprising Shankaracharyas, Dharmacharyas, saints and other religious representatives. He argued that such a body would command greater public confidence and ensure more transparent administration of the temple's affairs. The Congress leader also questioned the credibility of the investigation being carried out by the Uttar Pradesh government's Special Investigation Team (SIT).

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He claimed that the public had little faith in the state-appointed probe and demanded that the investigation instead be conducted independently under the supervision of a judge of the Supreme Court of India. According to the party, judicial oversight would help ensure an impartial inquiry into the allegations. In addition, the Congress sought complete transparency regarding donations received for the Ram Temple. Ramesh demanded that a full account of all cash and material donations collected for the temple be made public so that devotees can know how contributions have been received, managed and utilised.

The party argued that greater financial disclosure is necessary to restore public confidence in the trust's functioning. The controversy comes amid ongoing developments within the temple trust following recent administrative changes and allegations relating to the handling of donations. While the trust has initiated certain internal measures, opposition parties have continued to question whether those steps are sufficient to address concerns surrounding the alleged theft and financial management.

The BJP and the Ram Temple trust have not accepted the Congress' allegations of a cover-up. The issue has nevertheless become a fresh political flashpoint, with the opposition seeking greater accountability and transparency in the administration of one of India's most prominent religious institutions. Concluding his remarks, Ramesh urged Prime Minister Modi to break his silence on the matter, saying the issue concerns the faith of millions of devotees and deserves a clear response from the country's highest political leadership.

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