Prof. M.V. Rajeev Gowda, head of the All India Congress Committee’s research wing, has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take responsibility for the alleged misappropriation of funds in the Ram Temple Trust. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Prof. Gowda stated that since PM Modi took credit for the construction and inauguration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, he should also be accountable for the serious allegations of misappropriation.
Prof. Gowda pointed out that the appointments to the Trust were made by the Union Government, with Home Minister Amit Shah playing a central role. He questioned why the Trust was kept out of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and why senior functionaries, including Champath Rai and Anil Mishra, had resigned. Prof. Gowda alleged that the Trust was compromised and that the bulk of the misappropriated funds had not been accounted for.
The Congress leader also criticized the Special Investigative Team (SIT) formed by the Uttar Pradesh Government, stating that it was compromised and only targeting small players. He demanded that PM Modi break his silence on the issue and take responsibility for the alleged misappropriation. Prof. Gowda also called for the registration of an FIR and the immediate arrest of Champath Rai and Anil Mishra, as well as an independent inquiry under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
Prof. Gowda’s comments come as the Congress party has been putting pressure on the government with multiple press conferences on the alleged donation theft at Ram Mandir. The issue is set to be heard by a Chief Justice-led Bench on July 13.
The Congress party has been demanding action against those responsible for the alleged misappropriation of funds and has questioned the government’s handling of the issue. With the matter set to be heard by the Supreme Court, the issue is likely to gain further attention in the coming days.
