Akhilesh Yadav Slams BJP Over Ram Mandir Fund Theft
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing with the faith of millions of Hindus after a theft of funds meant for the Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya came to light. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the incident exposed the BJP's hypocrisy and questioned the transparency of the temple trust.
"The faith of crores of people has been played with. The BJP talks about Ram Mandir but cannot safeguard the funds donated by devotees. This is a serious matter that needs investigation," Yadav said in a statement.
Details of the Theft
The theft was reported from the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust office in Ayodhya, where a sum of Rs 1.12 crore was allegedly misappropriated. According to police, the money was collected through donation boxes placed at the temple site. The incident came to light during an internal audit, following which a complaint was filed.
Three individuals, including a trust employee, have been arrested in connection with the case. The police have recovered Rs 45 lakh from the accused, but the remaining amount is yet to be traced. The trust has assured strict action against those involved.
Political Reactions
The opposition has seized on the issue to target the BJP government. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also criticized the handling of the temple funds, calling it a "betrayal of public faith." The BJP, however, dismissed the allegations, stating that the trust is taking appropriate legal action and that the opposition is politicizing the matter.
"The Ram Mandir is a symbol of faith for the entire country. The trust is committed to transparency and will ensure that such incidents do not recur. The opposition should not make baseless allegations," said BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi.
Impact on Devotees
The theft has left many devotees disheartened. "We donate with full faith, and such incidents shake our trust. The authorities must ensure that our money is used for the temple construction and not stolen," said Ram Shankar, a devotee from Varanasi.
The Ram Mandir, being built at the disputed site in Ayodhya, has been a long-standing demand of the Hindu community. The construction began in August 2020 after the Supreme Court verdict. The trust has collected thousands of crores in donations from across the country and abroad.
