PM Modi announced Ram temple trust in Parliament, must break silence on floor of House: Cong

New Delhi, Jul 17 (PTI) The Congress on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced in Parliament the setting up of the Ram temple trust whose activities have resulted in “aastha dhoka” (betrayal of faith), and demanded that he must break his silence on the donations “theft” there on the floor of the House. Speaking with PTI ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session commencing Monday, Congress general secretary in charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the prime minister announced the creation of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Parliament and it is only appropriate that he takes the two Houses into confidence on what has happened. “On February 5, 2020, the prime minister got up in the Lok Sabha, one of those rare occasions when he comes to Parliament. He came to Parliament to make the announcement that his government was setting up the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust," Ramesh said. The Trust was set up by the prime minister and it comprises people appointed by him, Ramesh said, adding that the Trust's activities, its functions, and its terms of reference were given by Modi. “It is this Trust that has betrayed the faith of crores of Indians. There has been 'chanda chori, aastha dhoka' by the activities of this Trust,” Ramesh alleged. “So the prime minister must break his silence on the floor of the House. He created this Trust through an announcement on February 5, 2020. It's only appropriate that he takes Parliament into confidence. What has happened? How did this 'chanda chori’ and ‘aastha dhoka' take place in the Trust that he took great pride in setting up?” the Congress leader said. The alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya came to light last month, following which the Uttar Pradesh government constituted an Special Investigation Team (SIT). The investigation has so far led to the arrest of eight accused, resignation of two Trust functionaries and the recovery of cash allegedly siphoned off from temple donations. The probe is continuing. The SIT submitted a preliminary nine-page report to the government on June 23, which triggered a series of actions in the case. Former Trust general secretary Champat Rai, whose resignation was accepted amid the controversy, had said in a letter that he would break his silence only after the SIT submitted its final report. In the same letter, he also questioned how the confidential preliminary SIT report had found its way into the public domain. The probe has also come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court. On July 13, the apex court directed the SIT to submit a status report on its investigation while issuing a notice to the Trust on petitions seeking a fair and time-bound probe into the alleged donations theft. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant sought the status report from the SIT, which comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Special Secretary (Finance) Neel Ratan. Sources said the SIT may submit an interim report to the Supreme Court on Monday in compliance with the apex court's directions. The final report is expected to recommend reforms in the temple's administration and donation-counting system, with the Trust scheduled to meet in Ayodhya on July 22 to discuss the findings and the possible corrective measures. The Supreme Court is hearing petitions seeking a court-monitored CBI probe, a forensic audit and a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of the Trust's finances. PTI ASK ASK ARI ARI