Rajya Sabha proceedings were disrupted and briefly adjourned on Tuesday after Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge raised allegations of theft of cash and valuables donated to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The heated exchanges between the Opposition and the treasury benches forced the Chair to adjourn the House until noon.
Kharge demands CBI and ED inquiry into Ram Temple donation allegations
The disruption began shortly after the House assembled. Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge sought to raise allegations of misappropriation involving members of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the trust responsible for the construction and management of the temple.
According to The Hindu, Kharge questioned why central investigative agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had not initiated an inquiry into the allegations. He argued that the matter warranted scrutiny as the trust had been constituted by the government.
Treasury benches demand apology amid heated clash
The issue quickly escalated into a heated clash between the two sides. The NDA benches demanded an apology from the Opposition for raising the matter, leading to further disruption of proceedings.
As reported by The Hans India, the Rajya Sabha was briefly adjourned after the clash, with the NDA demanding an apology from the Opposition over the Ram Temple donation issue.
"The trust had been constituted by the government and the matter warranted scrutiny." — Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha
Opposition protests continue over Ram Temple donation controversy
The controversy has led to continued protests by Opposition MPs. In a related development, Opposition MPs staged a protest in the Parliament premises over the Ram Temple donation theft controversy, with some staging a skit on the issue.
According to a video shared by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Allava Rukrishna, the Opposition staged a skit on the Ram Temple donation theft controversy in Parliament premises.
Repeated adjournments mark the session
The Ram Temple donation issue has caused repeated disruptions in Parliament. Reports indicate that the Rajya Sabha witnessed four repeated adjournments over the alleged donation theft at the Ram temple, as noted in coverage shared on Instagram.
The issue has also affected the broader parliamentary agenda. As highlighted by Bhaskar English, Parliament cleared and introduced key legislations amid persistent protests by the Opposition over the purported theft of donations from the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Our Take: Accountability questions need clear answers
To put it plainly, this is not just a political squabble. When public donations meant for a revered religious site are alleged to have been misappropriated, the public deserves clarity. The Opposition's demand for a CBI or ED inquiry is a reasonable ask — especially since the trust in question was constituted by the government itself.
The treasury benches demanding an apology instead of addressing the substance of the allegations does little to reassure the public. In our view, the government should either facilitate a transparent investigation or clearly explain why the allegations lack merit. Deflection and adjournments only deepen public suspicion.
What matters most here is not which political party scores points, but whether the donations made by millions of devotees are safe and accounted for. That question deserves an answer — not an adjournment.
Sources & References
- The Hindu — Rajya Sabha adjourned amid protests over Ram Temple donation scam
- The Hans India — RS adjourned briefly amid uproar after Kharge raises Ram Temple donation issue
- Facebook — Opposition MPs stage protest over Ram Temple donation controversy
- Instagram — Rajya Sabha witnessed four repeated adjournments
- Bhaskar English — Parliament Monsoon Session: Bills Passed & Ram Mandir Controversy
