VHP urges cops to quiz Opposition leaders

Organisation accuses party leaders of politicising Ram Temple donation embezzlement case

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) launched an attack on the Opposition, accusing it of peddling baseless and inflammatory claims about the massive theft at the Ram Temple in a blatant attempt to create political mischief and communal ill-will.

In a sharply-worded letter to Ayodhya police, Alok Kumar, the international president of the RSS affiliate, has urged investigating officer DSP Ashutosh Tiwari to summon Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav and AAP MP Sanjay Singh to seek evidence and name sources in order to justify their allegations or face the consequences under the law.

“Nobody can be permitted to make wild allegations that tend to create and promote feelings of hatred, ill will, and enmity and get away with it,” the letter states. “In such a case, the law will then take its own course.” This comes amid an active police probe into the alleged theft of donations and valuables at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Alok Kumar pointedly noted that these leaders appear to be “acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case” and have even thrown around definite figures, including claims of a staggering Rs 20,000-crore scam.

Priyanka Vadra had suggested that influential people and not just junior staff, could be behind the switching off of CCTV cameras and the embezzlement offerings worth “thousands of crores”.  Kejriwal alleged the theft of around Rs 200 crore in cash, along with Lord Ram’s garland, charan padukas (divine footprints), diamonds, jewellery, silver bricks, and lamps, and openly questioned why the Uttar Pradesh Police, ED, and CBI have remained silent. Yadav claimed a massive Rs 20,000-crore scam, alleging that cash and valuables donated by devotees from across India and abroad have vanished, with involvement of junior employees, former trust general secretary Champat Rai (who has already resigned) and “several influential people”. While, Sanjay Singh alleged that over Rs 200 crore was stolen from donation boxes and that more than 50 employees were involved.

Kumar has urged police to record the leaders’ statements under the law so they can disclose the factual basis of their claims and hand over all supporting documents. The letter makes its position crystal clear: if the leaders provide credible material, it will help the investigation. But if their allegations turn out to be “knowingly false or reckless” and made “without any supporting basis”, the investigating agency should consider legal action.

Mohan Bhagwat breaks silence

Nagpur: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said he agrees with what the organization’s General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said on the Ram temple donation embezzlement case. “Seen the statement released by Hosabale ji...my reaction is also the same,” Bhagwat told the media in Nagpur.

In a statement on Friday, Hosabale said the alleged donation theft at the Ram temple in Ayodhya has “deeply hurt” the sentiments and faith of the entire society and called for ensuring that anyone found guilty after the investigation faces severe punishment.