'BJP-RSS Deeply Hurt Sentiments Of Crores Of People': Ashok Gehlot On Ram Mandir 'Theft' Row

New Delhi/Nagpur: Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the alleged embezzlement of funds at the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya, and stated that they have "deeply hurt" the sentiments of crores of devotees across the country.

Addressing a press conference at the party office here, the Congress veteran said the issue of the alleged theft of offerings at the Temple had reached villages across the country.

“There is widespread outrage among all people regarding it. The temple of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya is tied to the emotions of crores of people, which has been deeply hurt by the BJP-RSS," he said.

Referring to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, he said, "People from BJP-RSS and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) together formed the temple trust in a one-sided manner, but no one's accountability was fixed. It is being reported that they had information about the theft of offerings much earlier, but no action was taken against it, and the matter was hushed up."

Gehlot alleged that the theft of offerings in the Ram Temple has exposed the BJP-RSS's plot, character, and face before the country.

Citing the Trust's Monday meeting, the senior Congress leader said, "In the Trust's meeting, the theft was described as 'negligence, but if it was just negligence, then why was there a need for an FIR, SIT investigation, and arrests.

The trust and the BJP government should give a transparent answer on the offering theft, because so far, only cover-ups are being done."

Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, " Prime Minister Modi took credit for all the works related to the Ram Temple. Why is he not taking responsibility when the controversy has come to the fore ?."

"Our demand is that Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust' should be dissolved immediately. The investigation of this matter should be conducted by a Supreme Court Judge," he said.

In addition to that, the senior Congress leader reiterated the party's demand that a new trust should be formed involving religious leaders and scholars for the Ram Temple, and the Prime Minister should break his silence on the issue of the theft of offerings.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate also levelled serious allegations against the RSS and the BJP.

"The theft of donations from the temple where 'Lord Ram' is enshrined in Ayodhya amounts to a direct assault on the faith and devotion of the devotees," she told reporters in Nagpur. She alleged that the RSS has been playing with Hindu sentiments and that all these activities are taking place under RSS leadership.

Read More:

1. Ram Temple Donation Theft Row: Court Grants Police Remand Of 3 Accused
2. Congress, BJP In War Of Words Over Misappropriation Of Donations At Ayodhya Ram Temple