UP Congress plans ‘Chaupals’ to highlight temple donation row

UPCC chief Ajay Rai demands that Hindu religious leaders or ‘Dharmacharyas’ be appointed as the CEO of Ram Temple Trust

Uttar Pradesh Congress has planned to hold ‘Chaupals’ at the village level to take the issue of the Ram Temple donation theft case to the people, said a party press statement on Sunday.

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai during his visit to Ayodhya on August 23. (Sourced)

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai, who offered prayers at Ram temple and Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya during the day, claimed, “We recited the Hanuman Chalisa here and offered prayers that those guilty of donation theft and being saved by the SIT get due punishment.”

“Women here tie money in the corner of their ‘Aanchal’ and offer it to God. These people are thieves of that money,” he added.

Rai said the Ram temple would not be allowed to become a ‘centre of trade’. Questioning the selection process to appoint a chief executive officer for the Ram Temple Trust, the Congress leader demanded that Hindu religious leaders or ‘Dharmacharyas’ be appointed instead.

UP Congress has issued a circular to all district/city presidents/office bearers, state officials, current and former MPs/MLAs, and Congress members at the block/ward level to hold ‘Chaupals’ on a large scale.

The Congress Working Committee reviewed the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme, launched by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and decided this programme will be held in all major cities across the state, it added.

“Chhatron Ki Goonj programme should be run in all the major cities/towns, educational centres especially universities, colleges, coaching institutes, competitive examination centres of all the districts,” Rai added.