The Indian National Congress on Friday, 10 July launched a coordinated nationwide offensive over alleged financial irregularities involving donations and offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, demanding a Supreme Court-monitored investigation, a forensic audit of temple funds, and the reconstitution of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. Senior party leaders fanned out across multiple states, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre of remaining silent on allegations they claimed had shaken the faith of millions of devotees.

Key Demands and Central Allegations

Congress MP Pawan Khera, leading the charge at a press conference in New Delhi's Rajiv Bhawan, reiterated the party's call for a high-level independent probe led by a sitting or retired High Court judge under Supreme Court supervision. Khera alleged that a major financial fraud involving temple donations had hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus across the country and asserted that public confidence in the existing Special Investigation Team had collapsed. He further sought the dissolution of the current temple Trust and its reconstitution with Shankaracharyas, saints, and other religious leaders. Jammu and Kashmir Congress leaders Raman Bhalla and Ravinder Sharma were also present at the press conference.

Questions Over Trust Functionaries and Fund Expenditure

In Lucknow, Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda questioned the resignation of key Trust functionaries, including Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, asking why they stepped down if fund management had been transparent. Hooda highlighted alleged expenditure of ₹113 crore on the Pran Pratishtha ceremony and more than ₹10 crore on a flag-hoisting event, calling these figures indicative of serious irregularities in the handling of temple funds.

Nationwide Campaign: From Indore to Bengaluru

In Indore, Congress Madhya Pradesh in-charge Harish Chaudhary framed the issue as one of faith rather than mere finances, arguing that crores of devotees who had donated generously deserved accountability. He demanded an FIR, arrests of those found guilty, a forensic audit covering donations, offerings, land purchases and expenditure, and the transparent reconstitution of the Trust. Chaudhary asserted that 'Lord Ram belonged to the entire nation and not to any political party.'

In Bengaluru, workers affiliated with the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) staged a public protest led by KPCC General Secretary S. Manohar, demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe into alleged theft of cash and gold ornaments offered by devotees. Protesters — including a participant dressed as Lord Ram — distributed pamphlets calling for action against those allegedly responsible. Congress leaders accused both the BJP-led Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government of shielding the accused and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what they described as a conspicuous silence on the matter.

In Coimbatore, senior Congress leader M. Pallam Raju alleged that the BJP had politically leveraged Lord Ram since the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and claimed the Trust had been 'hand-picked' by the Prime Minister. Raju questioned why Modi was not addressing concerns that affected the faith of millions of Ram devotees.

Parallel Attack on Education Sector

Separately, the Odisha Pradesh Youth Congress organised its 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Bhubaneswar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, an investigation into his alleged links with examination paper leak networks, and systemic reforms to ensure leak-free examinations. Indian Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib alleged repeated paper leaks, widespread student distress, and rising unemployment among engineering graduates, accusing the BJP-led Union government of failing to protect students' interests.

What Comes Next

The BJP-led Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government have not publicly responded to the specific demands raised on Friday. With Congress pressing simultaneously on the Ram Temple controversy and examination integrity, the party appears to be consolidating a multi-front political offensive ahead of the coming legislative calendar. Whether the Supreme Court takes cognisance of any formal petition on the temple funds issue will be a key development to watch.