In the letter, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge said that thousands of crores had been donated to the trust by devotees, who now feel betrayed by the alleged theft.
NEW DELHI: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding that the trust’s accounts be made public. He also urged an independent and comprehensive investigation into the alleged theft of donations made to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.Sharing the letter on X, Rahul wrote, “Crores of devotees have offered their hard-earned money with faith at Shri Ram Mandir – the theft of donations there is no longer hidden from anyone. Every member of the trust was selected by your government. Your silence on this donation theft is unacceptable,” he said, calling for an immediate investigation and legal action against those responsible.He further added, “Conduct an independent investigation immediately, make the full accounting public, and bring the culprits to the dock of law. The credibility of your government now depends on your actions.”In the letter dated July 18, Rahul and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said thousands of crores had been donated to the trust by devotees who were now feeling betrayed by the alleged theft. “You are aware of the theft of thousands of crores in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Lakhs of devotees who donated their hard-earned money with faith, devotion and trust are feeling betrayed by the theft,” the letter said. The Congress leaders alleged that although the trust was formed following directions from the Supreme Court, its members were appointed solely by the government and were affiliated with the RSS, VHP and their affiliates. The letter also referred to the trust’s “disgraced former General Secretary” as a close associate of the Prime Minister.“Your silence now in the face of such a crime is unacceptable. It is your duty to ensure accountability and restitution,” Gandhi and Kharge said.They urged PM Modi to order an independent probe into the trust’s financial affairs, including the handling of all offerings in cash, gold and silver. They also demanded that the findings of the investigation and the trust’s accounts be made public so devotees could know how their offerings had been utilised.“All those found responsible must be held accountable, irrespective of position or influence,” the letter said.“The credibility of your government and the Trust rests on how transparently and swiftly you act. The people of India are watching,” it added.
