SIT probe into Ram temple fund row will reveal truth, says Yogi Adityanath

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed confidence that the SIT probe into alleged fund embezzlement at the Ram temple in Ayodhya will reveal the truth. He urged people to avoid speculation, promised action against the guilty and criticised opposition parties

Lucknow/Ayodhya: Expressing confidence that the SIT probe into the alleged embezzlement of funds at the Ram temple in Ayodhya will bring the truth to light, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday urged all parties to refrain from making baseless comments that could hurt the sentiments of devotees.

He encouraged anyone with evidence related to the case to present it before the SIT for examination. Adityanath warned that anyone found guilty, regardless of their position, would not be spared.

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Adityanath made the remarks in Ayodhya on Friday, where a three-member SIT constituted by the UP government is investigating the alleged embezzlement of funds at the Ram temple.

“I appeal to all devotees of Lord Ram regarding the news reports concerning Ayodhya. At the trust’s request, we have ordered an SIT investigation, and I assure you that this probe will bring the absolute truth to light. There is no doubt about that,” he said.

On the same day, Adityanath laid the foundation stone for and inaugurated 126 development projects worth over Rs 378 crore, besides unveiling the statue of warrior Jhalkari Bai.

Adityanath appealed to the devotees, saying, “I request all devotees to remember that he (Lord Ram) has taught us the lesson of ‘maryada’ (righteous conduct). For 500 years, our ancestors struggled to reclaim the sacred site of Lord Ram. Let us wait just another 15 days. However, we must not be misled by those who seek to defame Ayodhya or insult the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.”

Attacking the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, Adityanath said these parties would never want Ayodhya to gain prominence because they lacked the capability themselves and were unable to achieve it.

“These are the people who fired upon devotees of Lord Ram and wielded lathis against those who chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’. They questioned the very existence of Lord Ram and created every type of hurdle by deploying their lawyers in court to stall proceedings. They should stop lecturing us,” Adityanath stated.

He emphasised that any attempt to tarnish someone’s character should be discouraged, stating, “Do not try to unnecessarily tarnish the reputation of Ayodhya Dham.”

Sharpening his attack, Adityanath posed several questions: “Why didn’t those who ruled before 2017 make Kamakhya Dham a ‘Nagar Panchayat’ (urban local body in Ayodhya district)? Why didn’t they provide solar panels to the poor under the ‘PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana’? Why could the poor not access rations back then?”

“It was because they lacked sensitivity and the willpower to act. You held no significance for them. For them, their own family was everything. If jobs were available, only their kin would reap the benefits and enjoy all the facilities,” Adityanath said.

Adityanath added that Ayodhya’s development became possible because public representatives were active, extended constant cooperation and worked alongside the administration with a spirit of teamwork.

“Ayodhya’s new avatar is precisely what the opposition dislikes. How could they tolerate this magnificent transformation of Lord Ram’s sacred Ayodhya? These are the very people who have not yet visited the Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya and who even prevented their own MLAs from visiting Ayodhya Dham,” Adityanath said.

Referencing a proposal made by Manoj Pandey, the MLA from Unchahar in Raebareli and currently a minister in the state government, who, while serving as a Samajwadi Party MLA, suggested that all legislators should visit Ayodhya for worship, Adityanath said his proposal was accepted.

“However, Akhilesh Yadav immediately put a stop to it. He declared that no one would go to Ayodhya for worship. Rather, they are people who believe in and worship Babar. Consequently, he rebuked Manoj Pandey and expelled him,” Adityanath said.

On June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted an SIT following a request from the temple trust to probe allegations of misappropriation of donation money.

The probe follows allegations raised by Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, who on June 7 cited reports claiming that crores of rupees from donations offered at the temple were missing and urged the courts to take cognisance of the matter.

The fund embezzlement row has triggered political sparring between the ruling BJP and the opposition parties.