IndiaPosted at: Oct 25 2026 10:00AM


Jairam Ramesh demands probe into Ram temple donations, accuses BJP-RSS of betraying devotees' faith

New Delhi, Oct 25 (UNI) Congress General Secretary in charge of Communication Jairam Ramesh on Sunday demanded a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the collection and utilisation of donations and offerings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, accusing the BJP and the RSS of attempting to suppress allegations of financial irregularities and shield those responsible. Questioning the accountability of the temple trust and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence, Ramesh said the faith of millions of devotees deserved to be respected and challenged the Prime Minister to address the allegations during his visit to Uttar Pradesh.
In a strongly worded post on X, Ramesh described the controversy as "chanda chori, aastha dhokha" (theft of donations, betrayal of faith), arguing that the alleged misappropriation of money offered to a deity amounted to a grave violation of religious and public trust. He alleged that questions surrounding the handling of donations at the temple had not received satisfactory answers and called for full transparency in the institution's financial affairs.
"Money dedicated to God, known as dev dravya, and the theft of donations and offerings are considered a great sin," Ramesh said, accusing individuals associated with the BJP, the RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) who were linked to the temple trust of presiding over a controversy that had hurt devotees' religious sentiments. He further alleged that attempts were being made to suppress the issue and protect those responsible, claims that require independent verification.
Questioning the composition and accountability of the temple trust, Ramesh said several individuals associated with the BJP, the RSS and the VHP had been appointed trustees by Modi without what he described as adequate public discussion. He asked why the Prime Minister, who had prominently associated himself with the construction and inauguration of the Ram temple, was not responding to allegations concerning the management of donations and offerings.
The financial figures cited by Ramesh formed the basis of his demand for a detailed accounting of the money collected in the name of the temple. According to his post, the RSS and the temple trust had reported that Rs 3,264 crore was collected through the 2021 fund mobilisation campaign, combining contributions towards the temple and corpus donations. He argued that the scale of public participation in the temple movement made transparency in the collection and utilisation of funds particularly important.
Ramesh also cited figures relating to the enormous number of devotees visiting Ayodhya. He said 13.55 crore devotees had visited the town during the first nine months of 2024, while approximately 10 crore additional devotees had reportedly arrived during the 2025 Maha Kumbh period. Referring to figures for temple visits between April 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026, he said 16 crore devotees had visited during that period, while the reported offerings amounted to Rs 82.78 crore.
Ramesh questioned whether the reported amount adequately reflected the scale of pilgrim footfall and argued that the figures warranted a transparent examination of the temple's accounts. He maintained that the number of visitors alone could not establish the amount that should have been collected, but insisted that the reported figures and allegations demanded a clear, verifiable explanation from the authorities responsible for maintaining the accounts.
The Congress General Secretary also referred to remarks attributed to Nripendra Misra, chairman of the temple's construction committee, who he said had described the alleged wrongdoing as "dacoity" rather than merely theft. Ramesh questioned why Modi, union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were not pressing for a wider investigation into the allegations.
"Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done," Ramesh said, arguing that the handling of the controversy had failed to inspire confidence that the allegations were being examined with the seriousness they deserved. He said devotees across the country were entitled to know how their contributions had been collected, recorded, accounted for and spent.
Setting out four questions that he said the government and the temple authorities needed to answer, Ramesh sought details of the total donations collected nationwide and the number of contributors; the total value of offerings deposited in the temple's donation boxes, or hundis, and at designated counters; the alleged extent of the theft of donations and offerings; and the whereabouts of the accounts relating to offerings made by an estimated 30 crore devotees.
He also questioned why the Special Investigation Team had reportedly estimated the amount involved in the alleged theft at Rs 80 lakh, suggesting that the figure risked restricting public scrutiny to a narrower aspect of the controversy while leaving wider questions about donations and accounting unanswered. The allegations and figures cited by Ramesh, however, require examination against the temple trust's audited accounts and the findings of the relevant investigating authorities.
With Modi visiting Uttar Pradesh, Ramesh said the Prime Minister had an opportunity to address the controversy directly rather than remain silent on questions concerning the temple's finances. He urged Modi to explain the position to the public and provide answers to the questions raised by devotees and the Opposition.
Warning that the Congress would continue to pursue the matter, Ramesh said the party would seek to bring the truth before the public and ensure that anyone found guilty of stealing donations or offerings was punished in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
The controversy brings together three sensitive issues: religious faith, the stewardship of public contributions and political accountability. The Ram temple, inaugurated by Modi in January 2024, has been a defining religious and political issue for the BJP and the wider Sangh Parivar. Given the scale of public contributions associated with the temple movement and the enormous number of pilgrims visiting Ayodhya, transparent financial disclosures and credible answers to specific allegations are essential to sustaining devotees' confidence. The questions raised by Ramesh have placed the focus on the need for verifiable accounts, clarity about the findings of any investigation and accountability wherever wrongdoing is established.
UNI SKA IM
Tags: #Jairam Ramesh demands probe into Ram temple donations# accuses BJP-RSS of betraying devotees' faith
More News

Iranian Speaker’s absence casts geopolitical shadow over BRICS parliamentary forum in Delhi

25 Oct 2026 | 2:36 PM

New Delhi, Oct 25 (UNI) India’s efforts to strengthen the BRICS partnership through parliamentary diplomacy will unfold against a backdrop of mounting geopolitical uncertainty when the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum opens in New Delhi on October 26, with the absence of Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf adding an unexpected diplomatic dimension to the two-day gathering.

see more..

Jairam Ramesh cites Justice Kaul’s book to question Judicial Independence under Modi govt

25 Oct 2026 | 1:30 PM

New Delhi, Oct 25 (UNI) Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh on Sunday questioned the independence of the judiciary under the Narendra Modi government, citing revelations in a book by former Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul about alleged executive interference in judicial appointments, pressure on the collegium system and the handling of sensitive cases in the country’s highest court.

see more..

UNI NEWS DIGEST AT 1300 HRS ON OCTOBER 25, 2026

25 Oct 2026 | 1:11 PM

Top Stories Of The Day: .

see more..

PM Modi urges ‘vocal for local’ push as Mann Ki Baat completes 12 years, highlights grassroots innovation and self-reliance

25 Oct 2026 | 12:31 PM

New Delhi, Oct 25 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on citizens to prioritise locally made products during the festive season, support small businesses and traditional artisans, and strengthen cleanliness drives ahead of Diwali and Chhath, as his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat completed 12 years.

see more..

India’s Nanotechnology challenge: Turning scientific research into marketable products

25 Oct 2026 | 11:46 AM

Dr Kirti Saxena
New Delhi, Oct 25 (UNI) Nanotechnology promises to transform industries ranging from healthcare to semiconductors. For India, however, the central question is not whether its scientists can manipulate materials at the scale of billionths of a metre. It is whether the country can turn that expertise into products that businesses can manufacture competitively and consumers can afford.

see more..