VHP asks Ayodhya police to verify INDIA bloc leaders' Ram temple theft claims
The Vishva Hindu Parishad has written to Ayodhya police, asking it to examine the claims made by several Opposition leaders, including Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi
The Vishva Hindu Parishad has written to Ayodhya police, asking it to examine the claims made by several Opposition leaders, including Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, on the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple. The VHP has asked the police to summon them and seek the factual basis, source of information and documents supporting their allegations. Read Full Story The RSS affiliate has also sought action if the allegations are found to be "wild allegations" made to create and promote feelings of "hatred, ill will and enmity". In its letter, the VHP said the leaders had made specific claims that were widely circulated on television channels, social media platforms and other electronic media. In a letter dated July 4 to Ayodhya Deputy Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Tiwari, the investigating officer in the case, VHP international president Alok Kumar said the leaders had publicly made specific allegations and even cited definite figures, including claims involving amounts exceeding Rs 20,000 crore.
"The allegations made by the above named and other persons lead one to believe that they are acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case," the letter said. Referring to their public statements, Kumar said Priyanka Gandhi had questioned whether junior employees alone could have switched off CCTV cameras and manipulated offerings worth thousands of crores, or whether influential people were involved. Kumar said Kejriwal had alleged that about Rs 200 crore in cash, besides Lord Ram's garland, charan padukas, diamonds, jewellery, silver bricks and lamps, had allegedly been stolen, and had questioned the silence of the Uttar Pradesh Police, the ED and the CBI. The letter also referred to public statements allegedly made by Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav and AAP MP Sanjay Singh on the alleged theft of cash and valuables donated at the temple. Kumar said Yadav had alleged a Rs 20,000-crore scam, claiming that cash and valuables donated by devotees from India and abroad had allegedly gone missing and that not only junior employees and Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, who has since tendered his resignation, but also several influential people were allegedly involved.
According to the letter, Sanjay Singh had alleged that more than Rs 200 crore had allegedly been stolen from the temple's donation boxes and that over 50 employees were allegedly involved. Kumar said that to ensure a fair, comprehensive and impartial investigation, it would be appropriate to require the attendance of these leaders under the applicable provisions of law, or otherwise record their statements, so that they could disclose the factual basis of their allegations, the source of their information and all documents or other material in their possession supporting the claims. "Should any of the aforesaid persons furnish credible material in support of their allegations, the same would undoubtedly assist the investigating agency in discovering the truth," the letter said. It added that if, upon examination, the allegations were found to have been made without any factual basis or supporting material, that too would be a relevant aspect of the investigation. "If it is found that knowingly false or reckless allegations have been made without any supporting basis, the investigating agency may consider taking such action as may be permissible in law.
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