Congress seeks Champat Rai’s arrest, asks PM to apologise over Ram Temple donation row

Summary

Subscribed with another email? Unlock these with Subscription Published - July 08, 2026 07:53 pm IST - New Delhi Senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil addressed a press conference in New Delhi on July 8, 2026. Credit: X/@shaktisinhgohil The Congress on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) demanded the immediate arrest of former Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, and sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “mistake” in selecting members of the Trust. As part of the principal Opposition party’s continued focus on the issue of alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil addressed a press conference in New Delhi. Gohil reiterated the party’s demand for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the alleged irregularities, and called for the immediate dissolution of the temple Trust. “The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust should be immediately dissolved and replaced by a new Trust. The composition of this new Trust should be decided collectively by the Shankaracharyas, a retired Supreme Court judge, representatives of the Nirmohi Akhara, and various seers and saints,” the Congress leader said. The pattern of donations at the temple had raised serious questions about the possible diversion of funds, the Congress leader also alleged. “Before the issue of theft of donations from the Ram Temple came to light, daily collections amounted to ₹16 lakh to ₹18 lakh. The Congress’s fresh attack came after the Trust on Monday (July 6, 2026) accepted the resignations of Mr. Later, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh sharpened the party’s political attack on the Prime Minister, saying Mr. Modi had been at the forefront in taking credit for the Ram Temple but was now “shying away” from taking responsibility for the alleged theft of donations. “The Congress demands: dissolve the Trust, arrest the real culprits, conduct an investigation under Supreme Court supervision, form a new Trust and apologise to the nation.