Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday, 7 July called for a thorough investigation into alleged financial irregularities in Ram Mandir donations, while simultaneously highlighting the role of his then-Congress government in facilitating the legal supply of Bansi Paharpur sandstone for the temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. Speaking at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in New Delhi, Gehlot argued that faith of the scale attached to the Ram Mandir demands uncompromising accountability.

Gehlot's Account of the Sandstone Supply

Gehlot recalled that sandstone from Bansi Paharpur in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district was a critical construction material for the Ram Mandir. He said that during the early phase of the temple's construction, illegal mining was reportedly taking place in the region even as stone was being sourced for the project.

According to Gehlot, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai and his associate Dinesh met him in Jaipur. He said he advised them at that meeting that only legally mined and certified stone should be used. 'I told them that such a sacred and historic project should not use illegally mined stone. Only legally sourced material should be used so that the sanctity of the temple remains unquestioned,' Gehlot said.

Administrative Hurdles and the Centre's Role

Gehlot explained that the principal mining zone at Bansi Paharpur fell under forest and wildlife jurisdiction, making extraction difficult under existing regulations. He claimed the matter eventually reached the Prime Minister's Office, and that the Congress-led Rajasthan government sent a strong recommendation to the Centre for reclassification of the land to enable legal mining.

He added that his government expedited approvals that would otherwise have taken years, ensuring a lawful and uninterrupted supply of sandstone. 'The Temple Trust had appreciated our efforts at that time,' he said, referring to the Congress-led Rajasthan government's intervention.

The Donation Controversy and Accountability Demand

Gehlot's press conference came amid an ongoing controversy over alleged financial irregularities involving donations collected for the Ram Mandir. He argued that any misuse of contributions made with devotion by people across the country would amount to a betrayal of public trust.

'If allegations of embezzlement are true, they raise serious questions about accountability and governance. The faith of millions must be protected,' Gehlot said. He stopped short of directly naming individuals but made clear that the gravity of the project's religious significance made any financial misconduct especially serious.

Notably, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had not issued a detailed public response to the allegations raised by Gehlot at the time of this report.

Political Context

The press conference is part of a broader Congress push to raise questions around the management and finances of the Ram Mandir Trust. This comes at a time when the Ram Mandir — consecrated in January 2024 — remains a politically charged symbol, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) closely associated with its construction. Gehlot's framing — positioning the Congress as a facilitator of the temple's legal construction — is a calculated attempt to reclaim political ground on a subject the party has historically been cautious about.

What Happens Next

With the Trust yet to formally respond, pressure is likely to mount for an official account of how donations have been managed. Whether any formal investigation is ordered — and by which authority — will be closely watched by both political observers and the millions of devotees who contributed to the temple.