Congress seeks SC-monitored probe into alleged Ram Temple donation irregularities

Ranchi, Jul 11 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Manikrao Thakare on Saturday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored independent probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Addressing a press conference at the Jharkhand Congress headquarters here, Thakare alleged that neither the BJP nor the Uttar Pradesh government had fixed accountability despite the Special Investigation Team (SIT) reportedly uncovering serious irregularities. "The SIT probing the case has uncovered several serious irregularities in its report, on which the government has not yet provided any official clarification," he alleged. Thakare, the Congress in-charge of Goa, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, sought a forensic audit of the temple trust's accounts from its inception and questioned the composition of the trust, calling for its restructuring with eminent and independent members. "If no irregularities have occurred, then why is the government afraid of ordering an independent probe under the Supreme Court's supervision? Despite the entire trust being in the dock, why are only small-time employees being punished? Is the 'double-engine' government shielding the big offenders," he asked. He also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi explain the role of the Prime Minister's Office in the formation of the trust and its administrative supervision. Thakare further alleged that the trust had spent around Rs 113 crore on the Ram Lalla 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony on January 22, 2024, and over Rs 10 crore on a flag-hoisting event held later that year. PTI SAN SAN SOM