TMC seeks independent probe into Ram temple case, backs demand for Pradhan's resignation

New Delhi, July 7 (PTI) TMC MPs Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad on Tuesday demanded an independent probe into the alleged Ram temple donation scam and Union education minister's resignation, while extending support to students' protests and activist Sonam Wangchuk. Addressing a press conference here, the two MPs alleged that the reported resignation of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra from key positions of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust was an attempt to deflect attention from the larger controversy. They insisted that the entire functioning of the trust should come under independent scrutiny. Moitra said the trust could not be treated as an ordinary private body as it had been announced in Parliament by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Ayodhya verdict and notified by the Union Home Ministry, while receiving donations from the public. "Why is it a private trust? It was announced by the prime minister. It was notified by the Home Ministry. The money is coming from the public. Why is it a private trust?" she asked. She alleged that keeping the trust outside the ambit of the Right to Information Act had denied devotees access to information about its functioning. Claiming that allegations of financial irregularities had surfaced much before the recent controversy, Moitra referred to complaints made by engineer Dinanath Verma and former accounts manager Mahipal Singh. She alleged that Verma had complained of kickbacks in construction contracts, while Singh had flagged financial irregularities and claimed CCTV footage from the temple premises had disappeared before both were removed. Questioning the investigation into the alleged scam, she said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been constituted by the trust itself and reported to a senior Uttar Pradesh government official who was also a trustee. "When over Rs 700 crore has been discovered,.. we don't even know the actual number, it could be much more..." she said.. "The theft happened under your watch. Champat Rai knew about it in 2021," she added. She also questioned the appointment of Bajrang Lal Bagra after the reported exit of Champat Rai, alleging Bagra had earlier faced corruption-related allegations during his tenure as CMD of NALCO. "You have removed one thief and given it to another looter," she alleged. Accusing the BJP, RSS and VHP of betraying devotees' faith, Moitra said, "You have played with the faith of over a billion Hindus in this country. You keep saying you are the custodians of the Hindu faith. Today, millions of Hindus are looking to this government asking, where is the truth?" Azad echoed the demand for an independent probe, saying the arrests made so far could not bring the matter to a close. "You have just found a needle in the haystack. The entire haystack still has to be searched," he said. He alleged that donations made by devotees from across the country and abroad had not been managed transparently and referred to earlier allegations relating to land transactions linked to the temple project. "This is not just theft. People's emotions have been played with. People's money has been stolen," Azad said. Claiming the trust had lost the confidence of devotees, he said, "Every single person in this trust should have resigned." The two MPs also targeted the Centre over the education sector, accusing it of failing to prevent repeated examination paper leaks and demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. "We want Dharmendra Pradhan to resign immediately. Our students are sitting on the streets. Go and meet the students, sit with them," Azad said, referring to the indefinite protest by Wangchuk and students at Jantar Mantar. Moitra questioned the government's handling of examinations, saying it reflected a collapse of the system. The two MPs also criticised the BJP over the recent rape and murder of a minor in West Bengal's Baruipur, alleging the party was selectively politicising crimes against women. Moitra alleged that local BJP leaders had helped suspects escape and questioned the response to the case. "Where is the outrage?" she asked, alleging that incidents in West Bengal received disproportionate political attention while similar crimes in BJP-ruled states did not. Azad also referred to other recent incidents of sexual violence in West Bengal and accused the BJP of exploiting such cases for political purposes while ignoring crimes against women elsewhere. PTI AO PRK