In a heated debate on Sunday, November 10, Congress leader Kamru Zzaman Choudhury stirred controversy over the funds allocated by the Uttar Pradesh government for the upcoming Maha Kumbh. During the debate on Times Now, Choudhury argued that rather than spending state funds on the arrangements for the Maha Kumbh, “temple gold should be sold to clear the country’s debt.”

Choudhury raised objections to the budget sanctioned by the Uttar Pradesh government for the Maha Kumbh, emphasizing that the event has taken place for centuries, long before the rise of political entities like the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He stated, “We respect the Maha Kumbh. But the problem is, in the name of the Maha Kumbh and the Ram Mandir, thousands of crores have been siphoned off by the organisers.” Choudhury’s accusations about the alleged misuse of funds directed at the Kumbh arrangements sparked heated reactions, with several panelists questioning the basis of his claims.

In response to his allegations, Times Now anchor Pranesh Kumar Roy pressed him for evidence. However, when asked to substantiate his statements, Choudhury turned defensive, unable to provide concrete proof to support his accusations. The tension in the debate rose as Roy probed further, challenging Choudhury to clarify his position on other sensitive issues.

Roy also brought up the issue of "rampant land grabbing by the Waqf Boards occurring in the country,” a concern often raised in public discourse. Yet, when questioned about this, Choudhury sidestepped the topic, deflecting attention back to the Hindu temples and maintaining that there was a significant difference between the affairs of Waqf Boards and Hindu temples. According to Choudhury, "what happens at the Waqf Board level and in Hindu temples is completely different,” adding that there is nothing questionable occurring within the operations of the Waqf Boards.

In a surprising turn during the debate, Kamru Zzaman Choudhury attempted to shift attention from the Waqf Board land issue by suggesting that "selling all the gold in temples would make India debt-free." This sudden statement intensified the conversation, sparking outrage among other participants. BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari openly expressed his disapproval, demanding an apology from Choudhury for his comments. Despite this call for retraction, Choudhury did not respond with an apology, further igniting frustration.

Bhandari voiced his concerns on X, posting, “Shocking! ‘Mandiro main itna Sona hai ki isko bech de’ Congress officially says it wants to snatch the Gold that belongs to our temples and sell the gold! Congress has eyes on looting our temples! This is what Mughals did in past. Congress is Dangerous!” In his post, Bhandari strongly condemned Choudhury’s suggestion, drawing parallels to historical instances of temple wealth being plundered, and characterizing Congress's stance as a potential threat to the sanctity of religious sites.

As the debate continued, Times Now anchor Pranesh Kumar Roy sought reactions from other panelists on Choudhury’s proposal. However, SP's IP Singh deflected the question, steering the discussion away from Choudhury’s controversial remarks. Rather than addressing the topic at hand, Singh introduced an unrelated perspective, questioning the integrity of the Maha Kumbh and its funding. He argued that the Maha Kumbh arrangement was no different from a financial scam and pointed to incomplete projects across the state as evidence of potential misappropriation of funds. Singh declared, “The way money was looted in the name of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and the Ghats in Banaras, around 50% of the money allotted for the Maha Kumbh is being looted.”

During the debate, Kamru Zzaman Choudhury echoed his concerns, alleging that a “land scam” had taken place in Ayodhya, specifically involving the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. He asserted that this issue had not been adequately investigated, implying that the acquisition of land in Ayodhya was mired in questionable practices. The controversy he referenced revolves around the Trust purchasing land from Ansari for Rs 18.5 crore shortly after Ansari had acquired it from Kusum Pathak for Rs 2 crore. Both transactions were registered on the same day, leading the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) to accuse the Trust of inflating prices.

However, while these allegations gained attention, they overlooked crucial details. Evidence points out that the original sale agreement between Kusum Pathak and Ansari was signed in 2019, a time before the Ayodhya verdict caused a surge in land prices. This clarification highlights that the Trust's purchase was not an act of financial exploitation but rather a step taken to ensure transparency, legal integrity, and to avoid potential title disputes. Despite the claims of a scam, the Trust's acquisition complied with legal norms, disproving the allegations raised by critics.

The debate grew more intense as Rashtriya Ulama Council Spokesperson Adv Talha Rashidi joined the discussion, presenting additional accusations. He questioned the relevance of bringing up the Waqf Board in the conversation, pointing out that the Waqf Board is a legitimate entity established by Parliament. Rashidi also took issue with the criticism directed at the BJP, accusing the party of engaging in "appeasement politics," yet asserting that similar appeasement was seen during festivals like the Kanwar Yatra and Rakshabandhan. Further, he raised concerns over the opposition to Muslim reservations in Maharashtra, framing it as another example of selective scrutiny.

Interestingly, Rashidi disregarded the fact that a significant number of large Hindu temples are managed by the government, with a portion of the funds from these temples directed toward welfare initiatives. When anchor Pranesh Kumar Roy pointedly asked why it would be problematic if some of the funds collected from temples were used to support Hindu festivals, Rashidi had no answer, sidestepping the question entirely.