Leaders ask Modi to probe Ayodhya Ram temple donations

Senior opposition leaders have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding an independent investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement and theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram temple. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi sent a joint letter dated July 18, which was made public on July 19.

In the letter, the leaders allege that thousands of crores of rupees donated by devotees to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust have been stolen, betraying the faith of millions. They called the prime minister's silence on the matter unacceptable and urged him to order a comprehensive probe into the trust's financial affairs, including the handling of cash, gold, and silver offerings. They further demanded that the investigation's findings and the trust's accounts be made public.

The leaders noted that Prime Minister Modi announced the formation of the trust in Parliament in February 2020 following a Supreme Court directive, but its members were appointed by his government. They stated it is public knowledge that the trust's members are affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishva...