CM Sukhu leads Shimla march over Ram Mandir donation misuse row
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Sukhu led Congress workers on a protest march through Shimla over alleged misappropriation of Ram Mandir donations — then offered prayers at a local Ram Mandir and recited the Hanuman Chalisa at Jakhu Temple. The dual act of protest and devotion encapsulates Congress's calculated bid to challenge BJP's monopoly on Ram bhakti.
Key Takeaways
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu led a Congress protest march in Shimla on 7 July over alleged misuse of donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Ayodhya .
The march ran from the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex to the Ram Mandir in Ram Bazaar , with Cabinet ministers and MLAs participating.
Sukhu disclosed he personally donated to the Ram Mandir during the fundraising campaign and said the Himachal government declared a full-day holiday on inauguration day, exceeding the national half-day holiday .
He credited former PM Rajiv Gandhi with initiating the process that led to the temple's construction by ordering the opening of the Ram Janmabhoomi site's locks.
After the protest, Sukhu visited Jakhu Temple and recited the Hanuman Chalisa , reinforcing the Congress's message of personal piety distinct from political exploitation.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on Tuesday, 7 July led a symbolic protest march in Shimla, rallying Congress leaders and workers against the alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The march, which drew Cabinet ministers and legislators, underscored the Congress's attempt to frame the temple donation controversy as a breach of devotees' trust rather than a purely political dispute.
The Protest March
The procession moved from the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex to the Ram Mandir in Ram Bazaar, Shimla, with participants raising slogans against the alleged financial irregularities. Following the march, CM Sukhu, accompanied by Cabinet ministers and members of the legislative assembly, offered prayers at the Ram Mandir and participated in a havan ceremony — a deliberate signal, observers noted, that the Congress was contesting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s claim to being the sole custodian of Ram bhakti.
What the Chief Minister Said
Addressing supporters after the march, Sukhu said the BJP had 'politicised' the Ram Mandir while millions of ordinary devotees had contributed to its construction out of genuine faith. He disclosed that he himself had donated to the temple when volunteers approached him during the fundraising drive.
Sukhu pointed to the Himachal Pradesh government's decision to declare a full-day holiday on the day of the temple's inauguration in Ayodhya — going beyond the half-day holiday observed nationally — as evidence of the state's deep reverence for Lord Rama. He argued that true devotees do not exploit the deity's name for electoral advantage, adding that Lord Rama's 'greatest message is service to humanity.'
On the donation irregularities specifically, Sukhu said those responsible had 'not only misused public donations but also betrayed the trust and faith of millions of devotees.' He called it an 'emotional issue' and said the Cabinet had prayed at the Shimla Ram Mandir that those involved be 'guided towards the right path.'
Congress's Ram Mandir Narrative
Sukhu credited former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with initiating the process that eventually led to the Ram Mandir's construction, noting that the locks of the Ram Janmabhoomi site were opened during Gandhi's tenure. This framing is part of a broader Congress effort to reclaim a stake in the temple's legacy, which the BJP has treated as its political achievement since the January 2024 consecration ceremony.
The Chief Minister maintained that while the Congress holds deep faith in Lord Rama, it does not believe in 'exploiting religious sentiments for political purposes' — a charge it levels squarely at the BJP. He said the party respects all religions and is committed to the values of Hindu culture.
After the Protest
Later on Tuesday, CM Sukhu visited the Jakhu Temple in Shimla, where he offered prayers and recited the Hanuman Chalisa. The visit was seen as reinforcing the Congress's message that its protest was rooted in religious sincerity, not opportunism. This comes amid growing national scrutiny of the Ram Mandir Trust's financial management, with opposition parties across several states demanding a transparent audit of the donations collected from crores of devotees.
Point of View
Not theological. The credibility of that position, however, hinges on whether the Congress will demand a formal, independent audit of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust's accounts — something Sukhu stopped short of explicitly calling for. Without that concrete ask, the protest risks being read as political theatre timed to embarrass the BJP rather than a principled stand for donor accountability.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did CM Sukhu lead a protest in Shimla over the Ram Mandir?
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu led a Congress protest march in Shimla on 7 July to raise objections over the alleged misappropriation of donations made by devotees to the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya. He argued that those responsible had betrayed the faith of crores of devotees who contributed money and jewellery to the temple.
What happened during the protest march in Shimla?
Congress leaders and workers marched from the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex to the Ram Mandir in Ram Bazaar, Shimla, raising slogans against the alleged donation irregularities. After the march, CM Sukhu and Cabinet ministers offered prayers at the Ram Mandir and participated in a havan ceremony.
What did CM Sukhu say about the BJP and the Ram Mandir?
Sukhu accused the BJP of politicising the Ram Mandir, arguing that true devotees do not exploit Lord Rama's name for political gain. He also said the Himachal Pradesh government declared a full-day holiday on the temple's inauguration day — more than the national half-day holiday — as a mark of genuine reverence.
How did Congress link Rajiv Gandhi to the Ram Mandir?
CM Sukhu credited former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with initiating the process that eventually led to the Ram Mandir's construction, stating that the locks of the Ram Janmabhoomi site were opened during Gandhi's tenure. The Congress has used this argument to contest the BJP's claim of sole credit for the temple.
What did CM Sukhu do after the protest?
After the protest and prayers at the Ram Mandir in Ram Bazaar, CM Sukhu visited the Jakhu Temple in Shimla, where he offered prayers and recited the Hanuman Chalisa — a gesture the Congress used to reinforce its message of personal devotion separate from political exploitation of religion.
