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'May Lord Ram punish those who looted in his name': Kharge's veiled dig at BJP over Ayodhya temple donation row
Speaking in Patna, Kharge prayed to Lord Ram to “open his eyes” and punish those who had allegedly looted wealth in his name.
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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday invoked Lord Ram while attacking the BJP over the alleged fund theft at Ayodhya temple, praying that the God would “open his eyes” and punish those who allegedly looted wealth in his name.
The donation row pertains to alleged pilferage of cash offerings made by devotees at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The accused, most of them deployed in the counting and handling of donations, were arrested earlier this year after CCTV footage and internal audit flagged discrepancies. The Trust had lodged an FIR alleging that a portion of the offerings was being siphoned off before being deposited in the official account.
Speaking in Patna, Kharge launched a tirade against the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
He also spoke about the alleged ‘suddhikaran’ (purification) held in Haldwani after his speech in August, saying BJP president JP Nadda had promised an inquiry but an FIR was instead filed against Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the town. The Congress chief called for those involved in the ritual to be identified.
Kharge seeks action over ‘suddhikaran’ row
Kharge also said there would be no peace in the country as long as the RSS ideology persisted. “I am pained that socialist leaders like Nitish Kumar joined hands with people who believe in RSS ideology," he added, news agency PTI reported.
Referring to the alleged ‘suddhikaran’ (purification) incident targeting him, he said Nadda had promised an inquiry into the matter. “We need to find those involved in carrying out ‘suddhikaran’,” Kharge said.
The controversy erupted after Kharge addressed a Congress rally at Ramlila Maidan in Haldwani on August 8. Members of a right-wing group reportedly conducted a purification ritual at the ground later, drawing criticism from Congress leaders.
Earlier, Congress MP and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi order an FIR against those involved in the ‘suddhikaran’ (purification) of the Ramlila ground.
Gandhi also played a purported video showing the BJP’s Uttarakhand chief supporting the ritual and sought “justice” for the Congress president.
Kharge alleges ‘vote chori’ in several states
Kharge accused the government of coming to power through “vote chori” in Bengal, Haryana, Bihar and Maharashtra, warning that “these thieves will be put behind bars”.
He demanded that all elections be conducted using ballot papers, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls be halted immediately, and assembly elections held in the past two years be annulled.
Calling the fight against SIR a “second war of independence”, Kharge urged the people of Bihar to support a nationwide movement against the exercise.
Targeting the government over inflation, Kharge questioned how it could usher in ‘Amrit Kaal’ when it could not make basic essentials affordable.
This government, which cannot make onions and bread affordable, how will it usher in ‘Amrit Kaal’,” he asked.
(With inputs from PTI)
