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    The Indian Eye
                                            EYE ON INDIA                                                                                     6
                                                                                                                         JULY 10, 2026

                           Has Ram Temple donation

                controversy put PM Modi under

                                            political scrutiny?

               Questions over alleged financial irregularities at the Ram Temple are emerging as a sensitive test for

                   Prime Minister Narendra Modi, touching not just politics but the faith of millions of devotees.

                  he  alleged  embezzlement  of                                                                   Any perception of financial miscon-
                  donations made to the Ram                                                                       duct risks undermining public confi-
            TTemple in Ayodhya has evolved                                                                        dence not only in the trust managing
            beyond a local criminal investigation                                                                 the temple but also in the broader
            into a politically charged controversy                                                                political  narrative  surrounding  one
            with national implications. As oppo-                                                                  of the BJP’s flagship achievements.
            sition parties intensify their attacks                                                                    For Prime Minister Modi, the
            and investigators widen their probe,                                                                  issue is particularly delicate because
            the issue has placed Prime Minister                                                                   the Ram Temple has been central to
            Narendra Modi under growing pres-                                                                     his  government’s  cultural  and  po-
            sure to address allegations involving                                                                 litical  messaging.  The  inauguration
            one of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s                                                                   ceremony was projected as a defin-
            (BJP)  most  significant  ideological                                                                 ing moment of national civilizational
            and political achievements.                                                                           resurgence, with the Prime Minister
                The Ram Temple is far more                                                                        playing a leading role in the rituals
            than a religious monument. Its con-                                                                   and celebrations.
            struction followed decades of polit-                                                                      That  close  identification  now
            ical  mobilization  around  the  Ram                                                                  means that opposition parties are
            Janmabhoomi movement, which                                                                           attempting to frame the controversy
            became central to the BJP’s rise   President of Faizabad Bar Association Kalika Prasad Mishra, speaks to the media ahead of   as a test of accountability rather than
            from a marginal political force to In-  marching to Ram Janmabhoomi police station with advocates to lodge an FIR in the alleged   merely a criminal investigation.
            dia’s dominant party. Modi himself                                                                        Much will depend on what inves-
            presided over the temple’s ground-      theft of donations to the Ayodhya Ram Temple, in Ayodhya (ANI Video Grab)  tigators  ultimately  conclude.  If  the
            breaking ceremony in 2020 and the                                                                     allegations prove to be isolated acts
            consecration of the idol in January   “The  first  question  is,  what   individuals  after  lawyers  staged  a   by  individuals,  the  political  damage
            2024, making the project closely as-  about the money collected for the   protest demanding legal action.  could remain limited. However, if the
            sociated with his leadership and po-  construction of Ram Mandir? Ac-   Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh   probe uncovers systemic financial ir-
            litical legacy.                   cording to one source, it is Rs 2,000   government’s  Special  Investigation   regularities involving substantial do-
                That association is now making   crore, and according to the guy who   Team (SIT) has received a 15-day ex-  nations, the controversy could assume
            the donation controversy particular-  created the app, it is more than Rs   tension to continue examining the al-  much  larger  political  dimensions.
            ly sensitive.                     4,500 crore. So how did they misuse   legations. The investigation began af-  Beyond immediate electoral
                Communist Party of India      this much of an amount? And where   ter an FIR was registered on June 25.  considerations, the issue touches
            (Marxist) Rajya Sabha MP P San-   are the silvers? Where are the dia-   The fallout has already claimed   a broader question of public trust.
            dosh Kumar argued that the allega-  monds?...  This  is  a  gross  misuse  of   prominent figures within the temple   Millions of devotees across India
            tions were not simply a matter for   the faith of millions of Indians, and   administration. Shri Ram Janmab-  and  abroad  contributed  financially
            political debate but one concerning   the Prime Minister should answer   hoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General   to the temple project, viewing their
            the trust of millions of devotees.  this question,” he said.        Secretary Champat Rai and trustee   donations as an act of faith rather
                “It is not only the opposition po-  Kumar  further  argued  that  the   Anil  Mishra  resigned,  citing  moral   than merely charitable giving. Alle-
            litical parties, it is the feeling of the   issue had become “not only a polit-  responsibility as the probe expand-  gations involving those contributions
            entire nation, especially the entire   ical question between the opposition   ed, while investigators have record-  therefore resonate differently from
            Ram  Bhaktas  in  this  country,”  Ku-  and the ruling party; it is the ruling   ed statements from key individuals   ordinary financial scandals.
            mar told ANI. “Thousands of believ-  party versus the entire nation.”  connected to the case.             For Modi, whose political image
            ers...  generously  contributed  to  the   The controversy has gained ad-  Politically, the controversy pres-  has consistently emphasized integri-
            construction of Ram Mandir. They   ditional momentum after the Ayo-  ents a unique challenge for the BJP.  ty, transparency and decisive leader-
            live in India, they live abroad, and   dhya  Police  registered  a  complaint   Unlike many corruption allega-  ship, the controversy presents a diffi-
            they all had contributed immensely.”  filed  by  the  Faizabad  Bar  Associa-  tions  involving  government  depart-  cult balancing act. Remaining silent
                He  questioned  the  handling  of   tion  regarding  the  alleged  financial   ments or political rivals, this case   risks allowing opponents to question
            donations  and  demanded  greater   irregularities. According to Bar As-  concerns an institution that occupies   accountability, while direct interven-
            transparency  regarding  funds  and   sociation President Kalika Prasad   an emotional and symbolic place   tion carries the risk of politicizing an
            valuables contributed by devotees.  Mishra, the complaint  names  four   among millions of Hindu devotees.   ongoing investigation.

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