Amid allegations of corruption in the purchase of land in Ayodhya for the upcoming Ram Temple, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said it was a crime to cheat in the name of Lord Ram.
Posting on Twitter in Hindi, Gandhi said truth and justice are synonymous to Lord Ram and tagged the hashtag ‘Ram Mandir scam’ along with the post.
His Congress party has already demanded a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the allegations.
What is the allegation of corruption?
It has been alleged by politicians from the Congress party, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Samajwadi Party that nearly 12,080 square metres of land was bought at an inflated price of Rs 18.5 crore by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the Ram Temple.
The trust purchased the land at Rs 18.5 crore. The transaction happened on March 18. As per the allegations, the same land was just minutes ago sold by one Kusum Phatak for Rs 2 crore to Ravi Tiwari and Sultan Ansari. The trust had then bought the land from Tiwari and Ansari for Rs 18.5 crore.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai and trust member Anil Mishra have been accused of the scam.
The Congress said the “big scam” was perpetrated using the money collected from devotees. The party has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify whether those responsible for the scam had his protection.
Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said citing land deeds that trust members Anil Mishra, a BJP leader, and Hrishikesh Upadhyay, former mayor of Ayodhya, were signatories to the Rs 18.5 crore land deal.
‘PM should answer’
“Will the prime minister answer if those sinners, who have traded the faith of Lord Ram’s devotees, have his protection,” Surjewala said.
“How could BJP leaders commit such big malpractice in the name of Lord Ram whose words, values and ethical conduct are sworn as ideals. How much more land has been purchased in such a manner at throwaway rates out of funds received for the temple’s construction,” he asked.
The Congress has called on the Supreme Court to order an audit of all donations and funds received and spent by the trust with regard to the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The Congress party has, however, clarified that it is not seeking the stopping of the construction work of the Ram Temple, adding that it should continue at the current pace.
How did the trust respond?
Trust general secretary Champat Rai said they will study the allegations and then respond.
“Allegations of even assassinating Mahatma Gandhi were levelled on us. We do not fear allegations. I will study the allegations levelled on us, and probe them,” Rai said in a statement.
