Hyderabad: Telangana Transport and Backward Classes Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Monday demanded that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) apologise to the people of the country over the alleged embezzlement of crores of rupees meant for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
Addressing the media, the Congress leader accused the BJP of using the name of Lord Ram and akshintalu (turmeric-coated sacred rice) for political gains. He alleged that the reported misappropriation of donations collected for the Ram Mandir amounted to a betrayal of the faith of millions of devotees.
Recalling the history of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Ponnam Prabhakar said former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had laid the foundation for the construction of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple and noted that people from across the country had contributed generously towards the temple’s construction.
Calling the alleged financial irregularities an insult to the Hindu community, the minister said the controversy represented a “scam committed in the name of God.”
“The BJP sought votes in the name of Lord Ram and distributed akshintalu across villages. The same party must now answer the allegations of embezzlement and apologise to the people of the country,” he said.
Ponnam Prabhakar alleged that funds collected from devotees nationwide had been misappropriated and claimed that the people of Ayodhya were among the first to recognise the alleged corruption. He urged senior BJP leaders to respond to the allegations and take responsibility.
“Those who practise politics in the name of Lord Ram and devotion must come forward and explain what happened. They should apologise to the nation if any wrongdoing has taken place,” he said.
Focus on Electoral Roll Revision
Speaking on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Telangana, Ponnam Prabhakar described the exercise as a crucial democratic process.
He said enumeration forms had reached households across the state and urged Congress Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to work closely with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to ensure that no eligible voter is left out of the electoral rolls.
The minister said he had personally toured seven mandals to conduct training programmes for party workers regarding the revision process. He also noted that a review meeting for the Hyderabad and Secunderabad parliamentary constituencies was held under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to strengthen coordination during the voter verification exercise.
