Ram Temple Trust accused of Multi-crore financial scam; Opposition parties in UP demand CBI probe
Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have alleged financial scam worth crores of rupees in the land deal pertaining to Ram Mandir. The allegations have been labelled against the Ram Mandir Trust that was set up by Narendra Modi led the BJP government at the Centre to oversee and manage the construction of the temple based on a Supreme Court verdict. It was awarded around 70 acres of land in the ruling and 12 of its 15 members are nominated by the Centre.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (SP) claim the transaction took place in March this year. It involved two real estate dealers allegedly purchasing a property from an individual for ₹ 2 crores and selling it -- minutes later -- to the Trust for ₹ 18.5 crores, according to the allegation. The temple body has brushed the charge aside as frivolous.
Former Samajwadi Party MLA and Uttar Pradesh minister Pawan Pandey today held a press conference in Ayodhya alleging that the fraudulent land deal had taken place with the connivance of local BJP leaders and some Trust members.
He showed some documents that allegedly prove that a property located next to the Ram Janmabhoomi site was traded at a multi-fold markup. The documents were allegedly the stamp duty papers of both transactions and had common 'witnesses' -- the Mayor of Ayodhya and a local who is a member of the Trust -- according to Pandey.
"What gold did this property throw up in a matter of minutes that its price went from ₹ 2 crores to ₹ 18 crores-plus in a matter of minutes? This means loot to the tune of ₹ 16.5 crores has taken place. There should be a CBI enquiry," the SP leader said.
"Crores of people gave made donations to the Ram Temple Trust. They dug into their savings to donate. If this is what you do to their money, then this is an insult to the 120 crore people of the country," Pandey said.
The Trust, however, dismissed the allegations as unworthy of commenting on.
"All kinds of allegations have been made for over a century. Some also blamed us for Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. We do not worry about such allegations. You should not either," said VHP leader Champat Rai, who is also Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra.
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Operation Sindoor reflected India's firm response against terror: PM Modi
New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that Operation Sindoor reflected India's firm response against terrorism and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding the national security.
On the first anniversary of the military offensive against military and terror Infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, the prime minister said a year later, India remains as steadfast as ever in its resolve to defeat terrorism and destroy its enabling ecosystem.
Modi said a year ago, Indian armed forces displayed unparalleled courage, precision and resolve during the Operation Sindoor.
He said the forces gave a fitting response to those who dared to attack innocent Indians at Pahalgam and the entire nation salutes the Indian forces for their valour.
"Operation Sindoor reflected India's firm response against terrorism and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding national security. It also highlighted the professionalism, preparedness and coordinated strength of our armed forces," he said in a post on X.
At the same time, Modi said, it showcased the growing jointness among India security forces and underlined the strength that India's quest for self-reliance in the defence sector has brought to the country's national security.
Operation Sindoor was carried out by the three defence forces along with the BSF along the western border, targeting terrorist and military facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir from May 7-10, 2025.
This operation was carried out in retaliation to the April 22, 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.
