Maha Congress launches statewide protest over Ram Mandir donation theft row
Synopsis
Two opposition parties — Maharashtra Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) — have launched back-to-back statewide protests over alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, framing a financial controversy as a direct assault on Hindu faith. With a six-day district Satyagraha now underway, the BJP and RSS face sustained pressure on territory they have long claimed as their own.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra Congress launched its statewide protest on 7 July at the Kalaram Temple, Nashik , at 11 am .
State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal alleged that cash, gold, and silver donations to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir were misappropriated by the BJP and the RSS .
A 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' Satyagraha will be held at temples across all Maharashtra districts from 9 July to 14 July .
Shiv Sena (UBT) had already launched its 'Ram Raksha Andolan' on 5 July , with Uddhav Thackeray leading a Maha Aarti at Dadar's Hanuman Temple .
MP Sanjay Raut claimed gold ornaments, a golden Ramcharitmanas, and a gold mangalsutra offered to Mother Sita had allegedly gone missing from the temple.
UBT leaders demanded the immediate dissolution of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust .
Maharashtra Congress launched a statewide protest on Tuesday, 7 July against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. The agitation was formally kicked off at 11 am at the historic Kalaram Temple in Nashik, with a broader 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' Satyagraha scheduled across all districts from 9 July to 14 July.
What the Congress Alleged
State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal claimed that devotees had donated millions of rupees, along with gold and silver jewellery, to the Ram temple in Ayodhya — and that those offerings had been plundered. 'This is not just a robbery of money or donations, but a robbery committed in the name of Shri Ram against the faith of millions of devotees,' Sapkal said.
Sapkal demanded strict punishment for those responsible, directly accusing the BJP and the RSS of having 'plundered Lord Ram.' During the protest, prayers were offered to the deity to 'grant sanity and good sense to the deceptive people who have pocketed money in the name of Maryada Purushottam Lord Ram,' he added.
Structure of the Satyagraha
The district-level Satyagraha will be held at local Ram, Shiva, or Hanuman temples at each district headquarters across Maharashtra. The phase running from 9 July to 14 July is designed to sustain pressure on the ruling alliance and keep the alleged financial irregularities at the Ram temple in the public discourse.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Had Already Moved First
The Congress action follows a similar protest by Shiv Sena (UBT), which launched its 'Ram Raksha Andolan' on 5 July. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated the agitation at the Hanuman Temple in Dadar, Mumbai, leading a Ram Raksha Maha Aarti alongside party workers and sadhus visiting from Ayodhya.
Prominent UBT leaders, including MP Sanjay Raut, demanded the immediate dissolution of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, asserting that standard administrative accountability must be enforced over temple funds. Raut levelled specific accusations, claiming that beyond cash, valuable gold ornaments, a golden Ramcharitmanas, and a gold mangalsutra offered by devotees to Mother Sita had allegedly gone missing.
Thackeray invoked his party's historical role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, stating: 'We are staunch and patriotic Hindus. Hindus are innocent, but they are not fools. If someone loots a temple by taking advantage of our faith, Hindus won't forgive.'
Political Context and What Comes Next
This comes amid a broader opposition offensive in Maharashtra, where the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. Both parties appear to be competing to lead the narrative on the alleged temple donation controversy, framing it as a matter of religious faith rather than a purely political dispute. The BJP and the RSS have not yet issued a formal response to the specific allegations. The Satyagraha's conclusion on 14 July will likely determine whether the opposition escalates further or shifts to other platforms.
Point of View
Near-simultaneous protests suggests coordination within the MVA, but also a race for ownership of the narrative. The BJP has not yet responded with specifics, which leaves a factual vacuum the opposition is filling with allegations. The real test is whether any of these claims are substantiated by an independent audit — without that, the Satyagraha risks being absorbed as routine pre-election theatre rather than a genuine accountability moment.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Maharashtra Congress protest about?
Maharashtra Congress launched a statewide protest on 7 July over alleged misappropriation of cash, gold, and silver donations made by devotees to the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. State Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal accused the BJP and the RSS of plundering the donations.
What is the 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' Satyagraha?
It is a six-day district-level protest organised by Maharashtra Congress, running from 9 July to 14 July, held at local Ram, Shiva, or Hanuman temples at each district headquarters across Maharashtra. It is designed to sustain pressure over the alleged Ram Mandir donation controversy.
What did Shiv Sena (UBT) do before the Congress protest?
Shiv Sena (UBT) launched its own 'Ram Raksha Andolan' on 5 July, with party chief Uddhav Thackeray leading a Ram Raksha Maha Aarti at the Hanuman Temple in Dadar, Mumbai. The party demanded the dissolution of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
What specific items are alleged to have gone missing from the Ram Mandir?
MP Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged that beyond cash donations, gold ornaments, a golden Ramcharitmanas, and a gold mangalsutra offered by devotees to Mother Sita had allegedly gone missing from the Ayodhya temple. These are allegations and have not been independently verified.
Has the BJP or the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust responded to the allegations?
As of the time of this report, the BJP and the RSS had not issued a formal response to the specific allegations raised by Maharashtra Congress or Shiv Sena (UBT) regarding the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
