Bhopal, July 3 (IANS) Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday gave a fresh political twist to the ongoing political discourse in Madhya Pradesh by announcing a "non-political" padyatra from Ujjain's Mahakal Temple to Ayodhya on October 2 to demand transparency in donations made for the construction of the Ram Temple.
He also said he would move a court seeking accountability for his own donation to the shrine.
The announcement comes at a time when the Congress has stepped up its attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav over the alleged allotment of government land in Ujjain.
However, Singh's latest campaign has shifted the focus to alleged irregularities in Ram Temple donations, an issue he said was linked to the faith of devotees and not politics.
The 79-year-old former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said the padyatra would begin on Gandhi Jayanti from Mahakal Temple in Ujjain and end in Ayodhya.
He said he would also file a case there seeking details of how donations made for the Ram Temple were used. His announcement comes amid an ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into allegations of theft of donations and valuables from the Ram Temple.
Speaking to reporters after putting up a banner outside his residence in Bhopal reading, "Entry prohibited for those who stole donations and offerings made to Lord Ram," Singh said no one should question his religious faith.
"I am a pure follower of Sanatan Dharma. My hometown is Raghogarh, where centuries-old temples of Lord Raghav, Hanuman, Mata and Jagdish Swami have existed for generations. Lamps burn there round the clock. No one can question my faith," he said.
Singh said he had donated Rs 1.11 lakh directly for the construction of the Ram Temple and still had the receipt and a copy of the cheque.
"After consulting my senior counsel on July 5 or 6, I will go to Ayodhya and file a case in the court," he said.
He added that if the court found financial irregularities in the use of donations, he would seek the return of his contribution and donate it to another recognised religious institution or a trust associated with a Shankaracharya.
Addressing a 'Sadbuddhi Yajna' and a collective fast organised by the Madhya Pradesh Mahila Congress in Bhopal, Singh said crores of devotees had donated to the Ram Temple with faith and had the right to know how the money was spent.
"People made donations in the name of Lord Ram with complete faith. If there has been any misuse of those funds, an impartial investigation should be conducted, and those responsible should face action," he said.
He also questioned the financial transparency of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the functioning of the Ram Mandir Trust.
Singh said institutions handling religious donations should remain accountable to devotees. He also announced that he would install a plaque outside his residence reading, "Entry of donation thieves is prohibited in my house."
Singh's announcement comes amid intense political activity in Madhya Pradesh. State Congress President Jitu Patwari has been accusing Chief Minister Mohan Yadav of favouring a trust by allotting prime government land in Ujjain at a nominal price. The BJP has denied the allegations.
The issue also exposed differences within the Congress. Digvijaya Singh publicly questioned Patwari's allegations, saying documents available with him suggested the trust was a government entity and not a private organisation as claimed.
Against this backdrop, Singh's decision to launch the Mahakal-to-Ayodhya padyatra and seek legal action over Ram Temple donations is expected to add a new dimension to the political debate in Madhya Pradesh, shifting attention from the Congress' campaign against the Mohan Yadav government to the issue of transparency in religious donations.
