Digvijaya Singh demands FIR against Champat Rai:Former CM says, ‘Congress will take Ram Mandir donation theft issue door-to-door’

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh slams Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) over the alleged Ram Mandir donation theft case. Singh, while addressing the press conference in Ujjain on Saturday, demanded the immediate registration of an FIR against Champat Rai, former General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, accusing him of corruption. He also held the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for the alleged irregularities, saying the temple trust was constituted by them. Singh had arrived in Ujjain on Friday night and stayed at the Circuit House on Dewas Road. Besides the Ram Mandir issue, he also targeted the government over the management of the Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple, an alleged land scam, and the controversy surrounding the naming of the Indore-Ujjain Metropolitan Region. He said the metropolitan region should have Indore listed before Ujjain in its name. ‘I have come to advise the CM Yadav’ Singh said he had come to Ujjain to offer advice to Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. “You are handling too many departments. Officials may commit mistakes, but you will be held accountable. Do not let that happen because we will continue to question you,” he said. Targets RSS and VHP over Ram Mandir row Holding Prime Minister Modi responsible for the functioning of the Ram Mandir Trust, Singh alleged that the RSS and VHP were interested in political power rather than religion or religious activities. He claimed that these organisations operated without accountability and were misleading followers of Sanatan Dharma. Questioning Champat Rai’s role, Singh alleged that Rai, originally from Uttar Pradesh, had no religious background and had previously worked as an RSS pracharak before joining the VHP. He accused him of projecting a simple lifestyle while alleging irregularities involving silver bricks, jewellery, cash donations and foreign contributions. Questions consecration ceremony Digvijaya Singh also questioned the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir, alleging that traditional rituals were not followed. He claimed that, according to religious customs, the worship should have been performed by a married couple, but instead a bachelor and a divorced individual participated in the rituals. He demanded that FIRs be registered against Champat Rai and all trustees over the alleged violations. Congress to launch village-level campaign Singh announced that the Congress would take the alleged Ram Mandir donation theft issue to villages across the state. He said the party had formed committees at the block and local levels across 609 Gram Panchayats in Ujjain district. These committees would conduct door-to-door outreach to inform people about the alleged donation theft case. Alleges RSS occupied Mahakal Temple land Turning to the Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple, Singh alleged that he had opposed the transfer of temple land to an RSS-linked organisation since the tenure of former Chief Minister Sunderlal Patwa. He claimed that he had challenged the matter in court and alleged that RSS-affiliated groups had occupied temple land to construct guest houses while saints and seers were being sidelined. He further alleged that devotees could not obtain passes for the temple’s Bhasma Aarti without a recommendation from the Bajrang Dal. Displays documents on alleged land scam During the press conference, Singh displayed files and documents related to an alleged land scam. He said fresh documents had come into his possession following a media report and claimed that several names had emerged during the preliminary examination. However, he said he would reveal those names only after completing a detailed verification of the documents. “I am not making allegations against anyone at this stage, but once the documents are thoroughly examined, everything will be brought before the public,” Singh said.