India, June 27 -- Two years after the consecration of the Ram Temple became an ideological and political milestone for the Bharatiya Janata Party, allegations of irregularities in donations have spiralled into a serious controversy.

The controversy surfaced on June 7 when Samajwadi Party leader Pawan Pandey alleged that donations worth Rs.5 crore to Rs.7.5 crore were siphoned off from temple offerings. On the same day, the trust rejected the allegations. Champat Rai asserted that every rupee donated by devotees was properly accounted for and audited.

Later on June 7, SP president Akhilesh Yadav demanded an independent inquiry, saying faith demanded transparency. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha...