Congress Seeks Rajya Sabha Debate on Ram Temple Trust Under Rule 267

The Congress on Wednesday submitted two separate notices under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha, seeking an immediate discussion on the functioning, finances, and alleged irregularities related to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The party also requested that the scheduled business of the House be suspended to allow an urgent debate on the matter. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain, in his notice, called for a comprehensive independent audit of the Trust's accounts and overall functioning. He also urged the government to clarify the existing framework of official oversight, regulatory reporting requirements, and periodic public disclosures applicable to a trust of such scale and public significance. Hussain stated that an immediate discussion was necessary in view of the growing public concern over the Trust's financial affairs. He said the issue required urgent consideration and deliberation by the House. In a separate notice under Rule 267, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala sought a discussion on the alleged financial irregularities in the Trust and called for accountability. He also requested the suspension of the day's listed business to facilitate the debate. Referring to the Supreme Court's judgment of November 9, 2019, and the Centre's decision to constitute the Trust in February 2020, Surjewala said that millions of devotees had contributed thousands of crores of rupees for the construction of the Ram Temple. He alleged that reports of "theft, loot, and embezzlement" involving donations and the temple's construction had hurt the faith of devotees. His notice further claimed that, instead of ensuring accountability and transparency, those responsible for establishing such mechanisms were themselves facing allegations. Both notices were submitted under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha, which allows members to seek suspension of the scheduled business of the House to take up matters of urgent public importance for priority discussion.