Mayawati condemns theft of Ram temple donations
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the reported theft of donations collected for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. She termed the incident as "serious and worrying" and warned against any attempts to politicise the matter.
Details of the incident
The theft came to light when a local priest in Ayodhya filed a complaint alleging that a significant amount of cash, collected as donations from devotees for the temple construction, had been stolen. Police have registered a case and are investigating the matter. According to sources, the stolen amount is estimated to be around Rs 2.5 lakh.
Mayawati's statement
In a series of tweets, Mayawati said, "The theft of donations meant for the Ram temple construction is a serious and worrying matter. It should not be politicised as it hurts the sentiments of crores of devotees." She urged the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and swift action against the culprits.
Political reactions
The theft has sparked a political row, with opposition parties accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of neglecting the security of temple funds. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav also questioned the transparency of the temple trust managing the donations. However, Mayawati refrained from directly targeting any party, instead focusing on the need for a fair probe.
Impact on temple construction
The Ram temple construction, a long-standing demand of the Hindu community, is progressing rapidly under the supervision of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The trust has collected substantial funds through public donations. The recent theft has raised concerns about the security of these funds, though trust officials have assured that the amount stolen is minimal compared to the total corpus.
Broader implications
Mayawati's remarks come at a time when the BSP is trying to consolidate its Dalit and minority vote bank ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Her cautious stance on the issue indicates a strategy to avoid alienating any community while criticising the government's handling of the temple project. Political analysts believe that the incident could become a talking point in the election campaign, with parties trying to gain mileage.
