Ayodhya: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) have levelled charges of corruption against the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya for purchasing land at an inflated price for the Ram temple premises. They alleged that land worth Rs 2 crore was purchased at Rs 18.5 crore by the trust in Ayodhya.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and SP leader Pawan Pandey held separate press conferences on Sunday on the issue. They said that all the transactions were done at the behest of the Ram Janmabhoomi's General Secretary Champat Rai.
"Champat Rai, the general secretary of Shriram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust with the help of Trust's member Anil Mishra bought the land worth Rs 2 crore for Rs 18.5 crore," Singh told the media in Lucknow.
Terming it a case of money laundering, both Singh and Pandey demanded a probe into the matter by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.
Shriram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, refuted the allegations as "misleading and motivated by political hatred".
Land sold at 9 times higher price within 10 mins?
AAP's Singh said that “The piece of land was earlier purchased for Rs 2 crores by Ravi Mohan Tiwari and Sultan Ansari. 10 minutes later, the Trust bought the land for Rs 18.5 crores on March 18.”
In the latest twist, photos of Ansari with SP leaders Akhilesh Yadav and Pandey have started appearing on social media, reports said. The photos have raised doubts about whether Ansari had deep connections in the Samajwadi Party.
The Congress party also added its voice to the issue and said the Trust was carrying out a scam in the name of God.
Priyanka Gandhi tweeted from her official handle, "Crores of people made offerings to God because of their faith and devotion, misusing the donation made by the devotees is a sin, an insult to their faith".
Tagging a tweet on Rai refuting the allegation, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala had said on Sunday, "Lord Ram, what kind of days are these? Scams are happening by taking donations in your name. "The question is how the land bought for Rs 2 crore was sold after 10 minutes to 'Ram Janmabhoomi' for Rs 18.50 crores?" he asked.
Also read: SC should take cognisance of Ram temple land purchase deal: Congress
