Speaking to reporters here, Venugopal said the alleged embezzlement at the Ayodhya temple was the biggest issue in the country, and the RSS expressing regret over the matter was not enough.
“If a thief expresses regret after committing a robbery, does the matter end there? If the very people who plundered temple wealth say they regret it, does that close the issue? Isn’t this an assault on faith itself?” he asked.
The RSS in its annual Akhil Bharatiya Prant Pracharak Baithak held in Belagavi, Karnataka, on Sunday expressed “grief” over the alleged irregularities and voiced confidence that the ongoing SIT probe and police action would reach a “decisive turn”.
Venugopal said he was astonished by the RSS statement expressing regret.
“In its national convention in Karnataka, the RSS has said it regrets what happened. One of the most prominent VHP leaders is an accused in this case. The trust taking action in this matter was constituted by the Central government. It was formed under the direct supervision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he alleged.
He said Ayodhya had been used as a political campaign for decades and alleged that the BJP and the Sangh Parivar were exploiting revered temples for financial gain and political purposes.”What was the propaganda carried out in the name of Ayodhya for the past several decades? We are all believers. They have carried out an assault on that faith. Not just in Ayodhya, but in Badrinath and Kedarnath as well,” he alleged.
He alleged that the BJP and the Sangh Parivar are exploiting the most revered temples of the Hindu community only to plunder them.
“For them, faith is only a means to loot temple assets or divide people in the name of religion. They do not act out of devotion to God. They use religion either to plunder temple wealth or to divide poor people as Hindus, Muslims and Christians. This has now come to light,” he alleged.
He further claimed that poor devotees had contributed money to the temple out of faith and that those funds had allegedly been misappropriated.
“This is an assault on faith. This is the biggest issue before the country today,” he said.
To a question, Venugopal demanded a high-level investigation monitored by the Supreme Court.
“We need an investigation monitored by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court. The Ayodhya temple was built following the Supreme Court verdict. The trust was constituted under the supervision of the Prime Minister. Therefore, the government cannot escape accountability,” he said.
Venigopal said that Parliament will meet from July 20, and Congress will demand answers from the government.
“We will move forward with a strong struggle in Parliament over the Ayodhya issue,” he said.
Asked about the Sabarimala issue, Venugopal alleged that the BJP used matters of faith only for political purposes.
“They did not raise Sabarimala either. That too was a foul game. For them, faith has only two objectives — either to loot or to divide people. They have no other intention,” he alleged.
The Congress leader also accused the BJP of “engineering splits” in opposition parties through intimidation and misuse of central agencies.
“Look at what has happened to opposition parties. Leaders who were strongly criticising the BJP suddenly became its allies. This happened through threats and intimidation. It happened in the Trinamool Congress, in the Shiv Sena and in the Aam Aadmi Party,” he alleged.
He further alleged that the BJP intended to use the proposed delimitation exercise and constitutional institutions to retain power.
“The objective is to implement delimitation, misuse the Election Commission and continue ruling the country. The people of India will not allow democracy to be undermined,” he said.
Venugopal also criticised the Centre over the NEET controversy and alleged that the future of students had been endangered.
“The minister under whose watch the examination leak occurred continues in office. At the same time, the entire staff of another Union minister has resigned. It is said to be one of the biggest scams in the country. Shouldn’t there be an investigation? Shouldn’t questions be raised?” he asked.
On the appointment of a new Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Venugopal said the party had established organisational mechanisms to deal with such matters and a decision would be taken at the appropriate time.
Responding to a question on the Adani Group’s proposed move to transfer its share in Vizhinjam Port, Venugopal said Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan had already made the government’s stand clear.
“The Chief Minister has stated very clearly that the Central government should not take any decision that is against the interests of Kerala. That is the answer to the issue,” he said.
