Priyanka Gandhi seeks SC monitored probe into graft charges in Ayodhya land purchase

Pryanka Gandhi Vadra's remarks come just days after Ram Temple Trust the general secretary denied all allegations of corruption and financial misconduct

All India Congress Committee general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. File

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday reiterated the demand for a Supreme Court monitored investigation into allegations of corruption in a land purchase at Ayodhya by the Ram Temple Trust.

The Congress general secretary, who is the party in charge of Uttar Pradesh said in a Facebook post “any attempt to find an opportunity in faith is an assault on the faith of crores of Indians” and a “big sin”.

Her remarks come just days after Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai denied all allegations of corruption and financial misconduct.

“On March 18, 2021, two people bought land in Ayodhya for ₹ 2 crore. It is worth noting that this land is not for temple construction, but is away from the temple premises,”she said, citing media reports.

Ms. Vadra alleged that this land was bought after just five minutes by the Trust set up by the Prime Minister for ₹ 18.5 crore. “Which means that the price of land increased at the rate of ₹ 5.5 lakh per second”, she stated, adding that if the land was calculated on circle rates, the price of land in the area would be around ₹ 5 crore.

“Can anyone believe this? Don’t forget, all this money was given by the people of India in the form of donations and offerings for the construction of the temple,” she said.

Trust formed by PM

The Shriram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, she observed, was formed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had people close to him as trustees.

“It is the responsibility of the Prime minister that every penny of the offerings by the devotees in the name of Lord Ram should be used in the collective work related to faith and not in any scam,” she noted in her statement in Hindi.

“Inspired by faith and devotion, crores of people of the country made offerings to the temple of Lord Ram. Many of our sisters in reverence towards Lord Ram and Mother Sita offered their deposits at their feet,” she wrote.

Ms. Vadra pointed out that the trust had been formed on the instructions of the Supreme Court. She demanded on behalf of the people of the country that “the Supreme Court should get the entire scam investigated under its supervision”.