Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday, 3 July announced a 'non-political' padyatra from Ujjain's Mahakal Temple to Ayodhya, scheduled to begin on 2 October — Gandhi Jayanti — to demand transparency and accountability in donations made for the construction of the Ram Temple. Singh also said he would move a court seeking details of how his own donation of ₹1.11 lakh to the shrine was utilised.

What Singh Announced

The 79-year-old former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said the padyatra would commence from the Mahakal Temple in Ujjain and conclude in Ayodhya. Speaking to reporters after putting up a banner outside his Bhopal residence reading, 'Entry prohibited for those who stole donations and offerings made to Lord Ram,' Singh said the march was rooted in religious faith, not politics.

'I am a pure follower of Sanatan Dharma. My hometown is Raghogarh, where centuries-old temples of Lord Raghav, Hanuman, Mata and Jagdish Swami have existed for generations. Lamps burn there round the clock. No one can question my faith,' he said.

Legal Action Over Ram Temple Donations

Singh said he still holds the receipt and a copy of the cheque for his ₹1.11 lakh donation to the Ram Temple. He said he planned to consult his senior counsel on 5 or 6 July before travelling to Ayodhya to file a case in court seeking an account of how donations were spent.

He added that if the court found financial irregularities, he would seek the return of his contribution and donate it instead to another recognised religious institution or a trust associated with a Shankaracharya. The announcement comes amid an ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into allegations of theft of donations and valuables from the Ram Temple.

Broader Accountability Demand

Addressing a 'Sadbuddhi Yajna' and a collective fast organised by the Madhya Pradesh Mahila Congress in Bhopal, Singh said crores of devotees had donated to the Ram Temple in good faith and had the right to know how the money was spent. 'People made donations in the name of Lord Ram with complete faith. If there has been any misuse of those funds, an impartial investigation should be conducted, and those responsible should face action,' he said.

Singh also questioned the financial transparency of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and the functioning of the Ram Mandir Trust, arguing that institutions handling religious donations must remain accountable to devotees.

Political Context in Madhya Pradesh

The announcement arrives amid heightened political friction in Madhya Pradesh. State Congress President Jitu Patwari has been accusing Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of favouring a trust by allotting prime government land in Ujjain at a nominal price — allegations the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has denied.

Notably, Singh's announcement also exposed internal Congress tensions: he publicly questioned Patwari's claims, saying documents available with him indicated the trust in question was a government entity rather than a private organisation as Patwari alleged. By pivoting to Ram Temple donation transparency, Singh has effectively shifted the political conversation from the state government's land-allotment controversy to the broader issue of religious fund accountability — a move that carries significant resonance with devotees across the country.

What Happens Next

Singh is expected to consult legal counsel in the first week of July before filing the court case in Ayodhya. The padyatra, if it proceeds as announced, will draw national attention given the political and religious sensitivity of the Ram Temple issue. All eyes will be on whether the Congress formally backs the march or distances itself from what Singh has framed as a personal act of faith.