The Monsoon Session of Parliament began on July 20 with a major confrontation between the Opposition and the government, as opposition parties raised the alleged embezzlement of donations collected for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were disrupted shortly after the House assembled, with Opposition MPs raising slogans and demanding a discussion on the alleged donation scam. The House was adjourned amid the protests. The Opposition also linked the issue with the NEET controversy and demanded accountability from the government.
Congress MP K C Venugopal submitted an adjournment motion seeking an urgent discussion on the allegations. He demanded an independent investigation into the alleged irregularities under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge. The Congress alleged that donations made by devotees had been misappropriated and raised questions over the functioning of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The controversy intensified after an investigation into the alleged theft of donations at the temple. According to reports, the probe had widened to include temple staff, people linked to the Trust and financial transactions. Police had arrested eight people by July 18, while investigators were examining the role of several others involved in handling and counting donations.
The Supreme Court also took note of the matter on July 20. The Uttar Pradesh government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) submitted a status report to the court in a sealed cover. The court cautioned against turning the alleged donation embezzlement case into a political issue and emphasised that it should be investigated as a criminal matter.
Meanwhile, protests outside Parliament on the same day led to heightened security and police intervention. Authorities had already warned that an unauthorised march towards Parliament would face legal action. The July 20 demonstrations and police action became another major point of contention between the Opposition and the government.
The issue has since remained a political flashpoint during the Monsoon Session. Opposition parties are demanding greater transparency and an independent probe, while the investigation by the Uttar Pradesh SIT continues under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court. The latest developments have ensured that the alleged Ram Mandir donation irregularities remain one of the key issues being raised by the Opposition in Parliament.
