Congress demanded a discussion on the alleged Ram Mandir donation theft, triggering protests
July 13, 2026: Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Chhattisgarh Assembly on Monday as the monsoon session began with a political confrontation over the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. During Zero Hour, Leader of the Opposition Charan Das Mahant sought a discussion on the issue, stating that devotees’ faith had been betrayed as people had contributed their hard-earned money for the construction of the temple.
The demand was opposed by senior BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar, who argued that while the Ram Temple was a matter of faith, it was not an issue to be debated in the state assembly. Congress legislators countered that people from Chhattisgarh had also donated to the temple, making the matter relevant. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s allegation of donation theft further intensified the confrontation, leading to sloganeering by members of both parties.
Assembly Speaker Raman Singh rejected the Congress notices, stating that the matter did not directly concern Chhattisgarh. However, Congress MLAs continued their protest, displayed posters inside the House, and repeatedly demanded a discussion. Amid the continuing uproar and heated exchanges, the Speaker first adjourned the proceedings briefly before finally adjourning the House for the day, with the remaining business rescheduled for Tuesday.