Kejriwal Alleges Ram Mandir Scam, Questions PM Modi
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday, 2 July 2026, levelled sharp allegations of financial irregularities at the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, directly questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what he called large-scale scams and accused the government of constituting a 'fake SIT' to deflect public scrutiny.
Context
Posting in Hindi on X, Kejriwal asked: 'श्री राम मंदिर में इतने बड़े-बड़े घोटाले हो गए' ('Such massive scams have taken place in the Shri Ram Mandir') and questioned how the Prime Minister could claim ignorance. He went further, alleging that Modi was fully aware of the wrongdoing but chose to remain a silent spectator — invoking the Mahabharata figure Dhritarashtra, the blind king, as a metaphor for wilful inaction. The post, which included a video, concluded with a pointed rhetorical question directed at the Prime Minister: 'What exactly is going on, Prime Minister?'
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, constituted by the central government in 2020 following the Supreme Court's November 2019 verdict on the Ayodhya land dispute, oversaw temple construction using funds raised through public donations. The temple was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on 22 January 2024.
Policy Backdrop
The Ram Mandir project attracted donations from crores of devotees across India and abroad, making the trust's financial management a matter of significant public interest. The trust operates under a government-notified framework, which opposition parties argue places accountability squarely with the central government.
Kejriwal further alleged that when the truth began emerging publicly, the government responded by forming what he termed a 'fake SIT' — a Special Investigation Team — to give the appearance of accountability while shielding those responsible. NationPress could not independently verify the specific allegations regarding financial irregularities or the formation of any SIT as of the time of publication.
Stakeholders and Impact
The allegations, if substantiated, would directly concern millions of temple donors who contributed to the construction fund, as well as the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and the BJP-led central government. Opposition parties have historically used allegations of financial mismanagement in high-profile government-linked projects to build political narratives ahead of electoral cycles.
Kejriwal's post is consistent with a broader pattern of AAP and other opposition leaders demanding independent probes into centrally associated projects, often countered by ruling-party accusations of politicising religious and national institutions. No response from the temple trust or the central government had been issued publicly at the time of publication.
What's Next
Political observers will watch whether the BJP or the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust issues a formal rebuttal addressing the specific charges raised. Any official disclosure on fund utilisation or the mandate and composition of the alleged SIT would be central to assessing the credibility of the claims. With Kejriwal having a history of using social media to sustain pressure on the central government, further posts amplifying these allegations are likely in the days ahead.