'Sacked from my post after I donated for Ram Mandir', says Congress leader

Congress Vice-President Pankaj Mohan Sonkar was sacked from his post after he reportedly donated Rs 51,000 for the Ram temple fund drive. Sonkar accused the party of doing politics in the name of Ram temple.

Azamgarh: Congress party on Saturday sacked Pankaj Mohan Sonkar from the post of Uttar Pradesh Vice-President after he reportedly donated Rs 51,000 for the Ram temple fund drive. Sonkar, who was also the President of the party's youth wing, unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Lalgunj.

Alleging the party of politicising the matter, the leader said that the party sacked him as he donated for the Ram temple being built in Ayodhya.

"I got an e-mail that I have been removed from the VP's post due to my less involvement in party activities. But I have always been a part of every function and events organised by the party. The party did not serve me a notice before the suspension. Later, I came to know that I was suspended as I donated for the Ram temple," the leader told ETV Bharat.

Sonkar had donated Rs 51,000 for Ram temple construction on January 29.

"I started receiving phone calls from veteran Congress leaders as soon as the news trickled in. They were asking me why did I donate the money through RSS. They said that I should not have done this," he added.

Pankaj Mohan Sonkar accused the party of doing politics in the name of Ram temple.

"Priyanka Gandhi takes a dip in holy waters on an auspicious day and Rahul Gandhi calls him Shiva devotee. I am unable to comprehend what does the party want," he said.