Ayodhya Ram Temple Donation Theft: CM Adityanath Warns Opposition, Demands Evidence; Opposition Calls for SC-Monitored Probe

Following the arrest of eight individuals in connection with the alleged theft and embezzlement of funds and valuables donated at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday warned that those “playing with the faith of Sanatan Dharma” will face consequences. He urged the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress not to test the patience of Ram bhakts (devotees of Lord Ram).

Opposition parties, meanwhile, renewed their demand for a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the allegations. They argued that the resignation of Champat Rai as general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust was insufficient, given the scale of the issue.

Speaking at an event in Deoria, Adityanath said that during his visit to Ayodhya on June 19, he had announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the claims. “The moment the SIT report came, action started,” he said, referring to the arrests.

Adityanath criticised the Congress and SP, saying, “Now you will tell us what faith is? They say faith has been compromised. This is not acceptable. The government, on the very first day, had made it clear that everything will come out.” He added, “I am telling (Opposition), do not test the patience of Ram bhakts. Stop playing with the faith of Ram bhakts. If you do not have concrete facts, then stop making allegations, counter allegations. And if you have the facts, present it with evidence before the SIT.”

The Chief Minister further stated that the government has been acting on the SIT’s recommendations and urged the Opposition to refrain from making political statements while a team of senior officials is investigating the matter.

Adityanath also accused the Opposition of questioning the existence of Lord Ram. “One of them used to say Lord Ram never existed. They even wanted to deny Ayodhya’s existence. They continued fighting in court with a battery of lawyers against the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the Ram temple,” he claimed.

In response, Congress Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Shukla told The Indian Express, “This issue is so big. Champat Rai couldn’t be the only one behind this. So his resignation is not enough. The allegations look to be large-scale and the only way to find out the truth is by an investigation done by a Supreme Court-monitored probe. There are so many questions. Whose directions were those accused in the case working under?”

At a press conference in Delhi, Shukla said the “self-proclaimed protectors of Hinduism” have been completely exposed with the revelations of the theft of donations at the Ram Temple.

SP general secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav said a “huge theft took place at Lord Ram’s temple” and called for a thorough investigation with strict punishment for the culprits.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose told The Indian Express that the theft had “exposed the moral plank of Hindutva politics of the BJP-RSS”.

Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who visited the Ram Temple on Friday, alleged that a “major robbery” had occurred and that influential people involved in the embezzlement were being “protected”.

Communist Party of India (CPI) Rajya Sabha member P Sandosh Kumar said the theft “exposes the complete collapse of oversight and accountability inside the Ram Temple Trust”.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed that the main “culprits” are still working in the Trust and alleged that stolen money enters politics to buy MPs and split political parties.