Panaji, July 12: Senior Congress leader and former MP Rajani Patil on Sunday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored judicial inquiry into the alleged financial irregularities involving donations made to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, alleging that the BJP, RSS and VHP must answer for the alleged “loot” of devotees’ contributions.

Addressing a press conference at Congress House in Panaji, Patil said that millions of people, including farmers and the poor, had donated their hard-earned money for the construction of the Ram Mandir with faith and devotion. She alleged that the trust constituted for the temple had failed to safeguard these donations and claimed that a systematic financial scam had taken place.

Patil said the issue should be investigated through a judicial inquiry monitored by the Supreme Court and discussed in Parliament. She also demanded the arrest of Ram Mandir Trust Chairman Champat Rai, alleging that action against only lower-level staff would not reveal the full extent of the alleged scam.

Congress Working President and MLA Adv. Carlos Ferreira said FIRs should be registered against all those responsible and alleged that the incident reflected an organised syndicate rather than isolated wrongdoing. He said those responsible should not escape accountability merely by resigning from their positions.

Ferreira further alleged that after seeking votes in the name of Lord Ram, the BJP now had a responsibility to ensure a transparent investigation into the alleged misuse of temple donations. He maintained that devotees had contributed to the temple out of faith and not for their money to be misused.

GPCC Media Chairperson Amarnath Panjikar alleged that the BJP was politicising religious sentiments while remaining silent over the controversy. He said Lord Ram belongs to everyone and questioned the silence of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and Goa BJP President Damodar Naik on the issue.

The Congress leaders reiterated that a transparent and impartial investigation was essential to identify those responsible for the alleged financial irregularities and restore the faith of millions of devotees who contributed towards the construction of the Ram Mandir.