Cong raises questions over fundraising for Ram temple

MUMBAI: The Congress has raised questions over collection of donations for Ram temple in Ayodhya by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying there was a possibility of misappropriation of funds. The BJP, on the other hand, said the Congress should not poke their nose in the issue as the drive has been accepted by the common people.

Maharashtra Congress general secretary and spokesperson Sachin Sawant said though the donation collection for the Ram temple is being done through Ram Mandir Trust, BJP and RSS workers are collecting donations by going door-to-door and there was a possibility of use of the funds for the party. “In the past, the funds collected have been misused by the organisations related to Sangh parivar. There are many cases of misappropriation registered in various parts of the country. The state government should examine that the funds collected by BJP and RSS reach the trust,” said Sawant.

He added, “Neither has the Sangh Parivar given any reply to the allegations nor has the BJP government investigated it. The All India Hindu Mahasabha had lodged a complaint with the Prime Minister’s office on August 4, 2017 related to this.”

The BJP said the Congress’s accusation is out of jealousy because of the response to the donation programme. “The fundraising is being done transparently. Receipts are being given to the donors on the spot. Even poor people have been responding to the drive because of the confidence they have in the organisations collecting it,” said BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye.