Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Saturday, 4 July launched a coordinated attack on former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Indian National Congress (Congress) leader Digvijaya Singh, targeting his decision to file a lawsuit seeking the return of his ₹1.11 lakh donation to the Ram Temple Trust, alleging the funds were misappropriated. Multiple BJP ministers and spokespersons questioned the timing and sincerity of Singh's move, accusing the Congress of historically denying the existence of Lord Ram.

What Triggered the Row

The controversy erupted after Digvijaya Singh announced on Friday, 3 July that he would approach a court in Ayodhya to recover his donation, alleging it had been looted. Addressing an event organised by the MP Mahila Congress in Bhopal, Singh said he had donated ₹1.11 lakh directly to the Ram Temple Trust following the 2019 Supreme Court verdict and held an official receipt. He said he had deliberately avoided donating through the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), citing a lack of trust in the organisation, and had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting the amount be deposited with the trust.

Singh said he would meet a senior criminal lawyer in New Delhi on 5 or 6 July to prepare the petition before travelling to Ayodhya. He also announced a nearly 1,000-km padyatra from Ujjain to Ayodhya beginning 2 October 2026, describing it as 'completely non-political' and open to all devotees aggrieved by the alleged donation irregularities.

BJP's Broadside: 'Congress Never Accepted Lord Ram'

Union Minister Giriraj Singh said the Congress had no moral authority to speak on matters related to Lord Ram or Sanatan Dharma. 'Congress leaders never accepted the existence of Lord Ram. Why has their love for Lord Ram awakened now? Lord Ram is so revered that everyone who deceived him is now being exposed,' he said.

BJP Chief Spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo said Singh's reaction had come 'far too late', arguing that Singh should have acted in 2007 when, he alleged, the Congress government was claiming in court that Ram Lalla was an imaginary character. 'His demand to file a case now is a hollow argument. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) is already making arrests, so filing a case at this stage serves no purpose. We are confident that the SIT will soon file the chargesheet,' Shah Deo said.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Narendra Kashyap framed the controversy in transactional terms. 'Who denied the existence of Lord Ram? The Congress party. Who is being punished? The Congress party,' he said. Union Minister of State B.L. Verma alleged that Singh and the Congress 'are facing the consequences of their actions,' adding that Singh 'has never had faith in Lord Ram.' BJP spokesperson R.P. Singh accused the Congress veteran of having 'continuously made remarks hurting Hindu faith' and said he had now taken on 'the role of a religious teacher.'

UP Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar questioned the need for Singh's proposed legal action given the SIT's ongoing probe. BJP Bihar President Sanjay Saraogi alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had never visited the Ram Janmabhoomi and had returned from Hanuman Garhi without a visit during a 2016 trip.

Congress Defends Singh, Demands Supreme Court Oversight

Senior Congress leader Husain Dalwai described Singh as a devout believer who 'regularly visits the temple and offers his prayers there,' insisting his statement was not baseless. Dalwai also accused the BJP of 'exploiting religion for political purposes,' saying, 'Hinduism is a religion of great tolerance, but it is being used for political gains.'

Congress MP Manish Tewari declined to comment on Singh's specific remarks but called for any investigation into the alleged irregularities to be conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court. 'Since the verdict on the Ram Mandir was given by the Supreme Court, any enquiry should also be conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court by forming a committee so that a fair and impartial investigation can be ensured and the truth comes out,' Tewari said.

RJD Weighs In on Consecration Rituals

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Sudhakar Singh refrained from commenting directly on Digvijaya Singh's lawsuit plan but referenced concerns raised by religious scholars about the rituals followed during the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony on 22 January 2024. 'We have heard from several priests and religious scholars that the rituals and procedures during the Ram Mandir consecration were not properly followed,' he said, adding that he did not wish to go into detail as he was 'not a specialist in religious matters.'

Singh's Other Allegations and the Padyatra Plan

Beyond the donation dispute, Singh alleged that valuable land near the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain had been allotted to an RSS-linked trust during the tenure of former BJP Chief Minister Sunderlal Patwa and was now being used for commercial purposes, including the construction of a 100-room hotel. He demanded an independent investigation into what he described as misuse of donations. Singh also said he would remain off social media for the duration of the Ujjain-to-Ayodhya padyatra, which is planned to cover 10 to 15 km each day.

With the SIT probe ongoing and Singh's court petition in preparation, the political battle over the Ram Temple donation row is set to intensify in the weeks ahead.