India
-Oneindia Staff
The Aam Aadmi Party has launched a nationwide signature campaign demanding strict action over alleged irregularities linked to donations, offerings and land transactions connected with the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The campaign began on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at Japanese Park in Rohini Sector 10, Delhi, where party convener Arvind Kejriwal addressed supporters after a Sundarkand recitation and Hanuman Aarti.
The Aam Aadmi Party initiated a nationwide signature campaign starting July 12, 2026, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address alleged financial irregularities in donations and land transactions linked to Ayodhya’s Shri Ram Mandir.
Kejriwal said letters signed by devotees would be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to ensure accountability in the matter. The AAP leader alleged that devotees across India and abroad were hurt by reports of theft from temple offerings, questionable land purchases and commission-related charges in construction work.
The allegations made by AAP are political claims and require investigation by competent authorities. No final judicial finding has established the charges cited by the party. The issue, however, has gained political traction because the Ram Mandir project has been closely followed by millions of devotees who contributed money for its construction.
AAP turns Ram Mandir donation allegations into national campaign
At the Delhi event, Kejriwal signed a letter addressed to the Prime Minister before party workers and supporters added their signatures. He appealed to people to organise Hanuman Chalisa recitations and aartis in neighbourhoods, temples, community halls and residential societies, and then gather signatures on the same appeal.
According to AAP, the campaign will not be limited to party cadres. Kejriwal said the issue concerned all devotees of Lord Ram, regardless of political affiliation. He urged supporters to take the campaign to local areas and collect signatures from people who wanted a transparent probe and punishment for anyone found guilty.
Kejriwal alleged that money donated in the name of Lord Ram had been misused through inflated land purchases and commission-taking during construction. He also referred to alleged thefts from offerings at the temple and claimed that CCTV recordings had been deleted to protect those involved. These claims have not been independently established in court.
The party has sought to frame the issue as one of faith, public trust and financial accountability. Its public messaging asks why donations made by ordinary devotees should not be subject to the highest level of scrutiny. The campaign also seeks to place political pressure on the Union government and the temple trust.
What Kejriwal said in Delhi
Addressing the gathering in Rohini, Kejriwal said devotees expected the Prime Minister to act because the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust was formed after the Supreme Court verdict and was central to the temple’s construction. He alleged that the government had not responded with the seriousness that devotees expected.
Kejriwal said, “If your faith is true, bring out the truth. Do not protect the guilty, ensure they are punished.” He also said those who stole in the name of Lord Ram did not truly believe in him, and were using religion for votes and power.
The AAP leader used strong language during the event, demanding the harshest punishment for anyone found guilty of stealing offerings or misusing donations. The party’s letter to the Prime Minister similarly calls for severe action. Under Indian law, however, punishment can be awarded only through due legal process after investigation, trial and conviction.
The letter read out at the event said devotees had donated from personal savings, often without asking for receipts because they believed they were contributing to “God’s house”. It said the alleged theft of offerings had deeply shaken that faith and asked the Prime Minister not to remain silent.
Why the issue matters beyond party politics
The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is not an ordinary religious project. It followed decades of litigation, political mobilisation and a landmark Supreme Court judgment in November 2019. The court awarded the disputed land for the construction of a temple and directed that a trust be created to manage the project.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust was set up in 2020. Since then, the temple has received donations from people across India and from members of the Indian diaspora. The consecration ceremony in January 2024 made the temple one of the most visible religious and political symbols in the country.
That scale makes transparency important. Large religious trusts often handle donations, land, construction contracts, jewellery, cash offerings and digital contributions. Any allegation involving misuse of funds can affect public confidence, even before guilt is established. For devotees, the question is not only financial but deeply emotional.
At the same time, such allegations can become politically charged. AAP’s campaign directly targets the Prime Minister and the ruling BJP’s broader association with the Ram Mandir movement. The BJP has previously accused opposition parties of using religious issues for political gain, while opposition parties have demanded accountability in temple-related financial matters.
The next important question is whether any official agency widens the inquiry, clarifies the status of complaints or releases details on action already taken. For now, AAP has chosen a public mobilisation route, combining religious gatherings with a political petition. The response from the government, the trust and investigative authorities will determine whether the matter remains a campaign issue or moves into a formal accountability process.
