New Delhi, Aug. 4 -- Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not evade accountability over serious allegations relating to offerings, donations and land transactions linked to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, and demanded a parliamentary statement.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge alleged that the Trust, constituted by the Centre and formed by the Prime Minister, had come under scrutiny regarding valuable offerings, cash donations and land purchases connected to the Ayodhya Ram Temple. "The issue is directly linked to the faith of millions of devotees," he said.
Kharge noted that the Centre had transferred over 70 acres of land to the Trust and that Modi had attended all major temple events from 'bhoomi pujan' to 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony. "Under these circumstances, the Prime Minister cannot avoid accountability," the Opposition leader said.
Questioning the impartiality of central investigative agencies, Kharge asked where the ED, CBI and Income Tax Department stood on the matter. "Those responsible for the plunder in the name of Lord Shri Ram should apologise to the nation and stop misleading the public," he said.
Treasury Bench members interrupted his address with protests, preventing him from completing remarks.
Opposition MPs, including Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, protested in Parliament House complex against the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple and "police excesses" against student protesters.
Carrying placards against the government, MPs protested in front of the Makar Dwar of Parliament with slogans such as 'chhanda chor, gaddi chor' and 'Amit Shah jawaab do' raised.
The MPs also kept donation boxes at the spot to symbolise the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple and lined up around them to raise slogans against the government.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.