Himachal Congress Stages Statewide Street Protests Over Alleged Ram Temple Donation Theft

Shimla : The ruling Congress party in Himachal Pradesh has intensified its political offensive against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), taking the controversial issue of alleged financial irregularities and "donation theft" at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir directly to the streets.

The Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) organized massive statewide demonstrations across various district headquarters, demanding transparency and a high-level independent probe.  In the state capital, Shimla, the agitation was led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu himself. Accompanied by cabinet ministers, MLAs, and hundreds of party workers, the Chief Minister led a prominent march from the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex through the crowded lanes of Ram Bazaar to the local Ram Mandir. The marchers, chanting devotional hymns and raising slogans against the central government, later performed a traditional havan and offered prayers at the temple, seeking the triumph of truth.  

Chief Minister Sukhu strongly criticized the opposition, accusing the BJP of heavily politicizing Lord Ram and using the sacred temple construction strictly for electoral gains. He emphasized that millions of devotees from across India had selflessly contributed their hard-earned money and ornaments out of sheer faith, and any misappropriation of these funds represents a grave betrayal of public trust.  

Simultaneously, a major demonstration erupted in Dharamshala, spearheaded by Rajya Sabha MP Anurag Sharma and Rural Development Minister Yadvinder Goma. Protesters marched from the Post Office Chowk to the Hanuman Temple, where they collectively recited the Hanuman Chalisa as a unique form of protest.  All India Congress Committee (AICC) spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Rathore further attacked the BJP leadership for its absolute silence on the matter, alleging an active attempt to shield the culprits. Conversely, the BJP dismissed the protests as a desperate political stunt aimed at distracting the public from the state government's financial mismanagement and failed administrative promises.