Congress targets Centre over MMDR amendment, seeks transparency in Ram temple donations

The Gumla district unit of the Congress on Monday stepped up its opposition to the Centre’s MMDR amendment and raised questions over the transparency of donations collected in the name of the Ram temple, saying the party would continue its agitation on both issues from Parliament to the streets.

The Congress organised a press conference at the local Circuit House auditorium on the directions of the Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee. State Congress spokesperson Ujjwal Prakash Tiwari and JPCC media panelist Rajiv Narayan Prasad addressed the media.

Tiwari said Jharkhand’s land, water, forests and mineral resources were closely linked to the rights and economic interests of the people of the state. He alleged that the Centre was attempting to limit the powers of states through legislation and said the Congress would oppose any such move.

Jharkhand has long contributed significantly to India’s industrial development through its mineral resources, including coal and iron ore, he said, adding that the state also bears the consequences of displacement and environmental damage associated with mining.

“If the rights of the state over its minerals and finances are restricted through legislation, the Congress will oppose it,” Tiwari said, adding that seeking a greater say over Jharkhand’s mineral resources was not “begging” but a constitutional right.

He said the issue went beyond a single law and involved questions of state rights, economic autonomy and the federal structure. He also questioned why important decisions concerning revenue and resources generated from minerals extracted in Jharkhand should be taken at the Centre.

Prasad, meanwhile, demanded greater transparency in the handling of donations collected for the Ram temple. He said millions of people had contributed their hard-earned money in the name of Lord Ram and therefore had the right to seek information about its utilisation and financial transactions.

“Ram belongs to the faith of the people. He is not the private property of any political party,” Prasad said, adding that seeking an account of donations collected in the name of Ram should not be treated as an offence.

He also questioned the basis on which the RSS had reportedly given a clean chit to certain individuals in connection with the issue and asked what authority an organisation had to do so.

The Congress leaders said the party would intensify its campaign against the MMDR amendment and over the donation issue through a phased agitation. They said Congress workers from different districts would participate in the proposed gherao of Lok Bhavan on September 26, while protests would also be organised at the block level.

The leaders said the party would continue to raise both issues, arguing that the campaign concerned transparency in matters of public faith as well as the rights of Jharkhand over its natural resources.

District Congress president Rajnil Tigga, Youth Congress district president Azad Ansari, vice-presidents Rohit Vicky and Shahjahan Ansari, city president Jai Singh, block president Ghulam Sarvar, Mohammad Minhaj, Amit Kumar and other party workers were present at the press conference.