Alleging that ₹5,000 crore had been misused in the construction of the Sri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun M. Kharge on Sunday claimed that the temple had been built to loot money and sought an investigation to reveal those involved in the alleged scam.

“The temple has been constructed to loot money. Nobody gave any account of the money collected after (L.K.) Advani’s Rath Yatra. Now, after the construction of the temple, ₹5,000 crore has been misused. There are reports suggesting that the poojary (priest) has swindled money in the name of Lord Rama,” Mr. Kharge said during the installation ceremony of new Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president B.K. Hariprasad here on Sunday.

“I have seen several temples being consecrated by spiritual leaders. However, he (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) installed the idol, inaugurated the temple and even cut the ribbon. Money is being looted from the temple. An investigation must be conducted to find out whether the money is being looted by his followers or by someone else,” Mr. Kharge said.

Referring to the inquiry announced by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he asked: “Why do you need 15 days to do so? When God, Mr. Modi and the temple are with you, put those looting money in the name of Rama behind bars.”

The Congress president said that while people voted on the basis of religion and faith, looting was taking place in the name of dharma. “The rights of people and students are being trampled upon and the poor are being inconvenienced. They want money from the Ram Mandir, yet are fleecing the poor by taxing petrol and diesel. Because your (the NDA government’s) administration is not functioning properly, you are conducting the NEET examination for the second time. The BJP and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have betrayed lakhs of students,” he said.

Students’ council polls from this year

The student body elections in educational institutions, which were discontinued in Karnataka in the late 1980s, will be reintroduced from this academic year, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said on Sunday. Speaking at the installation ceremony of B.K. Hariprasad as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mr. Shivakumar said there was a need to nurture leadership from the panchayat level to Parliament. He added that the government would take a decision on the issue shortly.

Kharge asks CM, KPCC chief to work together

As the State government witnessed a transition in leadership, with D.K. Shivakumar recently taking over the reins from Siddaramaiah, Congress president Mallikarjun M. Kharge on Sunday urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and newly appointed KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad to work together. “Whatever differences that may crop up should be sorted out without going to the media, as it will affect the party and its workers,” Mr. Kharge said.

Boards, corporations set for recast

Appointment of party workers to boards and corporations came to the fore during the installation of B.K. Hariprasad as KPCC president. Offering advice to D.K. Shivakumar and B.K. Hariprasad, Congress president Mallikarjun M. Kharge said: “Identify genuine Congress workers and appoint them as chairpersons of boards and corporations. They will stand with you in the BBMP, taluk panchayat and zilla panchayat elections.” Referring to the completion of half the government’s term, Mr. Hariprasad urged the Chief Minister to reconstitute the boards and corporations. “I urge you to recast the boards and corporations. Set up a new team, as it has been two and a half years,” he said.