BJP chief must explain Ram temple loot under Modi govt: J-K Congress

Jammu, Jul 6 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Monday asked visiting BJP president Nitin Nabin to explain to people how the alleged "loot" at the Ram temple could take place right under the nose of the Modi government. The party also asked Nabin to explain "delay and betrayal" by the BJP-led Centre in restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Nabin on Monday reached Jammu on his maiden organisational visit to the Union Territory. "The visiting BJP president should answer in Jammu that how such a loot from holy temple has taken place under the nose of his party's government at the Centre. The shameful loot has hurt the faith of crores of Hindus in the country and abroad," the JKPCC said in a statement here. The J&K Congress said the Modi government and the BJP cannot escape responsibility and liability from such an "open loot" of donations to the temple, as the central government as well as the saffron party claimed credit right from its inception to setting up of the temple. The Congress alleged that the Ram temple project had remained mired in controversy from its inception, including over the collection of donations and the purchase of land for the temple. It claimed that the latest revelations had exposed what it described as "open loot", calling the alleged irregularities highly "unfortunate and condemnable". The Congress claimed that the temple trust was deliberately kept out of the purview of the RTI and the people who donated a lot were deprived of the required information with regards to their offerings and donations. The JKPCC also sought an explanation from the BJP president over "delay and betrayal" of his party-led government in restoration of statehood and the silence of his party MPs and MLAs from J&K over the issue. "It is nearly two years that assembly elections were held and an elected government took over but the Modi government has gone silent over the issue of statehood after the BJP failed to get majority," the statement said. It said the Congress has been spearheading the movement for the restoration of statehood since November 2024 and held continuous protests within and outside Jammu and Kashmir including Delhi, and alleged that the BJP remained silent over the demand of the entire population of J&K. The Congress demanded that Nabin should give definite timeline for the restoration of the statehood to J&K. PTI TAS KVK KVK