Congress delegation to visit Ram Temple today

Amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged embezzlement of funds in the Ram temple, a high-level Congress delegation will visit Ayodhya on Tuesday and pay obeisance at the temple.

The delegation will be led by UP Congress chief Ajay Rai and include party MPs Kishori Lal Sharma (Amethi), Rakesh Rathor (Sitapur), Ujjwal Raman Singh (Prayagraj) and Tanuj Punia (Barabanki), according to a party statement. Former Barabanki MP SP Gautam, former MLC Deepak Singh, former Maharajganj MLA Virendra Chaudhary and former Barabanki MLA Mita Gautam will also be there with the delegation.

The party has informed the local administration about the proposed visit. Sharma alleged the special investigation team probing the case was "merely an eyewash" aimed at protecting senior leaders of BJP, RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. "If investigation is conducted fairly, the truth will come out. Senior leaders of VHP, BJP and RSS are involved, but efforts are being made to protect them," he alleged. Sharma said the registration of an FIR against eight people was not sufficient, alleging that those "behind the scenes" were being protected. "The government should reveal who those people are. Congress will launch a nationwide public campaign against this and expose BJP's real face before the people. Those who could not remain true to Lord Ram can't remain true to the country," he said.