'System engaged in protecting dacoits': Kejriwal on Ram temple donation theft

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday alleged a cover-up in the purported donation theft case at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, accusing the system of shielding those responsible and demanding the harshest punishment for the accused."The robbery that took place in Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya has hurt the sentiments of Ram devotees all over the world. They left nothing untouched, engaged in land scams... They stole the money that lakhs and crores of devotees had given in the name of God. Even when the Ram temple was being built, large-scale commission-taking went on. In 40 days, 70 theft incidents were caught on CCTV inside. The CCTV recording of 8 months has been deleted. We kept demanding. We thought that the people up top would do something, but now it's clear that they won't do anything because people from their own party and their brother organizations are involved in this. The entire system is engaged in protecting dacoits and thieves. Today we organized the Sundarkand; every devotee must take a vow that for those people who committed robbery in Lord Ram's house, until we get them the punishment of hanging, we will not stay silent," Kejriwal said while addressing a gathering in Delhi.The remarks came during a Sundarkand recitation programme organised by the AAP at Japanese Park in Rohini.In a post on X ahead of the event, Kejriwal had invited people to participate in the religious programme, saying prayers would be offered to Lord Hanuman over the alleged donation theft.As part of the programme, Kejriwal also announced that the party would launch a nationwide signature campaign seeking strict punishment for those allegedly involved in the Ram temple donation theft. He said the campaign would begin after the Sundarkand recitation and seek public support for action against those responsible.The BJP criticised the event, with Delhi BJP president Harsh Malhotra calling the Sundarkand recitation a "political gimmick" aimed at improving Kejriwal's political standing. He alleged that the programme was intended to influence voters in Punjab and other states headed for elections and questioned why the AAP had discontinued the weekly Sundarkand recitations announced by the then Delhi government in 2024.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.