Professor Gowda said that the appointments to the Trust were made by the Union Government, and Home Minister Amit Shah was central to these appointments. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
All India Congress Committee’s research wing head, Prof. M.V. Rajeev Gowda, on Friday (July 10, 2026) said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who took all the credit for the construction and inauguration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, should also take responsibility when serious allegations of misappropriation of funds in the Ram Temple Trust have been made public.
Speaking to the reporters, Professor Gowda said that the appointments to the Trust were made by the Union Government and Home Minister Amit Shah was central to these appointments.
“All the activities related to the temple trust, all the appointments were done through the Union Government, and Home Minister Amit Shah was central to the appointment. At the very top of the organisation, we had a senior RSS functionary. Champath Rai and Anil Mishra. This Trust was also kept out of the RTI Act. Why was it kept out of the Act if it was run cleanly? Why have Mr. Rai and Mr. Mishra resigned? They have presided over this loot.”
He further said that the SIT formed by Uttar Pradesh Government was compromised.
“The CM of Uttar Pradesh has set up a Special Investigative Team headed by an officer who has multiple charges of fraud and other things. It is only targeting the small fish. Where did the bulk of the money go? If you take credit, you must also take the responsibility.”
Prof. Gowda asked why PM Modi is silent on these issues when he has no problem speaking about issues when it suits him or to stoke communal tensions.
“We demand registering of the FIR and immediate arrest of Champath Rai and Anil Mishra. We demand an independent enquiry under the supervision of the Supreme Court,” he said.
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Published – July 11, 2026 11:31 am IST
