Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab President Aman Arora on Monday, 19 October urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure strict punishment for those responsible for the reported 'chanda chori' (donation theft) at Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Arora, also a Cabinet Minister, cited 105 reported incidents of donation misappropriation and demanded accountability beyond junior-level employees at the temple.

The Core Demand

Arora said that millions of devotees had contributed their hard-earned money towards the construction of the Ram Mandir with deep faith, and any misappropriation amounted to a betrayal of that trust. 'Millions of Ram devotees contributed their hard-earned money towards the construction of the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya with immense faith and devotion. If the money donated by devotees has been misappropriated, it is a betrayal of their faith. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must ensure that everyone found guilty faces the strictest punishment,' Arora said.

Over One Lakh Letters from Punjab Devotees

Displaying bundles of letters at a press event, the AAP Punjab chief said more than one lakh Ram devotees from across Punjab had voluntarily written to Prime Minister Modi seeking justice. He said these letters had come from approximately 22,000 polling booths across the state and would be presented to the Prime Minister as a collective appeal. The party plans to formally submit this correspondence as a petition demanding accountability and strict action against all those found responsible.

Accountability Beyond Junior Staff

Arora questioned why the inquiry into the alleged theft should stop at lower-level temple employees when 105 reported incidents had taken place. 'Why should accountability end with lower-level employees when serious questions remain about the role of senior officials and those entrusted with managing the temple's affairs? If repeated incidents of theft have taken place, the responsibility of those overseeing the institution must also be examined,' he said. The AAP argued that a thorough probe into the role of senior officials was essential for credibility.

Political Context and the BJP Angle

The AAP's offensive carries a clear political edge: the party has charged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which built significant electoral capital on the Ram Mandir cause, must not shield anyone accused in these cases. Arora was careful to frame his intervention in devotional rather than purely partisan terms, stating he raised the issue 'not as an AAP leader or party president, but as a Ram Bhakt who shares the anguish of lakhs of people across Punjab.' Notably, this comes at a time when the AAP and BJP are locked in intense political rivalry across several states.

What Happens Next

The AAP has announced it will submit the letters from over one lakh devotees to Prime Minister Modi as a formal collective appeal. The party has also demanded a comprehensive probe that examines the role of senior temple management, not just frontline staff. How the Centre responds — and whether the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which oversees temple affairs, initiates any independent inquiry — will be closely watched in the coming days.