Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said that anyone found involved in alleged irregularities related to the collection of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya will not be spared. He added that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) would clear the matter soon. The CM made the remarks while addressing an event in Ayodhya to mark the birthday of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, chairperson of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
CM hits out at Opposition
Speaking for the first time on the ongoing SIT probe into the alleged scam, Adityanath accused the Opposition of trying to malign the Ram temple. He targeted the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress, saying they first opposed the construction of the temple and are now spreading misinformation about it to insult the holy city of Ayodhya.
“Those who denied the existence of Shri Ram and ordered lathicharge and firing on Ram Bhakts are now preaching to others. They are making a malicious attempt to insult Ayodhya. Akhilesh Yadav has not yet visited the temple and had also prevented his MLAs from visiting Ayodhya. When Manoj Pandey, then an SP MLA and now a minister in the state government, proposed that all MLAs should visit Ayodhya for darshan, Akhilesh Yadav rejected it and said that no one should go,” the CM said, alleging that the Opposition was not devoted to Ram but to Mughal ruler Babur.
He also accused the Congress of making every effort to prevent the construction of the Ram temple, including submitting an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that Lord Ram had never existed.
SIT probe and appeal for restraint
Adityanath said the government took cognisance of newspaper reports on the alleged scam and constituted an SIT “on the request of the Trust” to investigate the claim. He appealed to people not to speculate on the matter and wait for the SIT report. He asked those with documentary evidence to submit it to the SIT and, until then, refrain from making statements that would hurt the sentiments of Ram devotees.
“Lord Ram taught the values of dignity and restraint, and therefore everyone should maintain decorum. Our ancestors struggled for the temple for 500 years while maintaining dignity, and we should wait another 15 days for the SIT verdict. If anyone is guilty, it is certain that no matter who they are, they will not be spared,” the CM said.
Development projects and other events
During his visit, the CM inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 126 development projects worth more than Rs 378 crore, including a Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital in the Rudauli Assembly constituency.
Drawing a parallel between the SP and BJP, Adityanath said that before 2017, no work was done for the public because the party in power lacked sensitivity and political will, and only their families mattered to them.
Earlier in the day, the CM visited Kamakhya Dham, where he unveiled the equestrian statue of Veerangana Jhalkari Bai. “Veerangana Jhalkari Bai forced the British to retreat during the First War of Independence in 1857. Respect for national heroes and brave warriors inspires patriotism. BJP’s double-engine government has launched several initiatives in the names of Maharani Laxmibai, Durgavati, Avanti Bai Lodhi, Jhalkari Bai and Uda Devi,” he said.
The CM added that three PAC battalions have been established in the names of Avanti Bai Lodhi, Jhalkari Bai and Uda Devi, in which only women will be recruited.
Elaborating on the Panch Pran given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the CM said that Uttar Pradesh, once called a BIMARU state with no jobs, distressed farmers, and unsafe conditions, is now moving on a path of development.
“UP is no longer a BIMARU state. It has emerged as a growth engine and a breakthrough force in India’s economy. The progress achieved over the last nine years is the result of collective efforts by all stakeholders,” the CM said.
