The Karnataka Congress has stepped up its attack on the BJP leadership over the controversy surrounding alleged theft and financial irregularities linked to donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. At its general body meeting, the state Congress adopted a resolution demanding the resignations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, accusing them of bearing moral responsibility for the controversy.
The resolution also sought a detailed investigation into the allegations and called for accountability in the management of donations received by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The Karnataka Congress has demanded both an SIT investigation into the alleged wrongdoing and a CBI probe into the wider allegations surrounding the handling of temple donations.
The Congress resolution comes amid a broader political controversy over alleged theft of offerings at the Ayodhya Ram Temple and questions about financial oversight within the trust. Investigations into the alleged theft are ongoing, and reports say several people have been arrested and money recovered. The temple trust has also undergone leadership changes following the controversy.
Congress demands accountability from top BJP leaders
The Karnataka Congress alleged that the Ram Temple Trust received large amounts of money and valuables from devotees and other contributors, but claimed that adequate transparency and accountability were missing in the management of those donations. According to the party’s resolution, the controversy cannot be treated merely as an internal administrative failure because the Ram Temple has national religious and political significance. The party argued that those occupying the highest positions in the Union and Uttar Pradesh governments should accept moral responsibility and explain what steps were taken to ensure accountability. The state Congress specifically demanded the resignations of Modi, Shah and Yogi Adityanath. The demand forms part of the wider opposition offensive against the BJP over the donation controversy. India Today’s Karnataka coverage also reported that the state Congress had passed a resolution seeking the resignations of all three leaders.
The Congress further alleged that the trust had collected substantial donations for the construction and operation of the temple and claimed that questions remained about accounting systems and the handling of cash and valuables. However, allegations involving the wider trust leadership remain contested, and the ongoing probe has yet to establish all the political claims being made around the controversy. Former trust general secretary Champat Rai has said he would respond to allegations after the SIT submits its final findings.
SIT and CBI probe demands intensify political battle
The Karnataka Congress resolution called for a Special Investigation Team to identify those responsible for the alleged theft and sought punishment for everyone involved, irrespective of position. The party also demanded a CBI investigation, arguing that the scale and sensitivity of the matter required an independent and comprehensive inquiry. Congress leaders have claimed that simply taking action against lower-level employees would not be enough and that investigators should examine whether there were failures at higher levels of administration.
The controversy has already led to major changes within the trust’s leadership structure. Reports say the trust accepted the resignations of senior office-bearers and moved toward strengthening its professional management, while investigations into the alleged theft continued. The political battle has expanded beyond Karnataka as Congress leaders at the national level have also demanded greater transparency and questioned the silence of the BJP leadership. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate has separately called on the Prime Minister to address the controversy publicly and demanded stronger action regarding the temple trust.
Ram Temple controversy becomes national political issue
The Karnataka Congress resolution indicates that the Ram Temple donation controversy is no longer being treated only as a criminal investigation in Uttar Pradesh. Opposition parties are attempting to turn the issue into a national debate over accountability, transparency and management of religious donations. For the Congress, the issue offers an opportunity to challenge the BJP on a subject that has long been politically and symbolically important to the ruling party. The BJP and its supporters, meanwhile, have accused opponents of politicising an ongoing investigation.
The Ram Temple Trust controversy has already generated significant public scrutiny. Reports indicate that the investigation is examining how staff involved in handling temple offerings allegedly exploited weaknesses in surveillance and security procedures. The exact scale of the wrongdoing and responsibility of individual accused persons remain matters for investigators and courts to determine.
By formally passing a resolution demanding the resignations of Modi, Shah and Yogi Adityanath, the Karnataka Congress has escalated the political confrontation. The move ensures that the controversy will remain part of the opposition’s broader campaign against the BJP, while the findings of the ongoing investigations will be crucial in determining how the issue develops politically and legally.
