Kejriwal Announces Ayodhya Visit, Accuses BJP of Inaction on Ram Mandir Donation Theft Claims
New Delhi, August 26: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced that he will visit Ayodhya on Friday to offer prayers at the Ram Mandir. He also levelled allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over reported theft of donations at the temple.
Speaking to reporters, Kejriwal claimed that every Sanatani is deeply hurt by reports of theft of offerings at the temple. He alleged that despite the BJP being in power at both the state and central levels, no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered on the issue.
“Crores of rupees in offerings have been stolen from Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Despite this, no FIR has been registered so far. In this case, neither has the Uttar Pradesh police registered an FIR nor have the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed any case,” Kejriwal said.
He further alleged that several influential persons are involved in the case and if proper action is taken, even the government could fall. However, no evidence was provided to support these claims.
The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was inaugurated in January 2024, and since then, devotees have been visiting in large numbers. The temple trust, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, manages the offerings and has not commented on the alleged theft.
As of now, neither the Uttar Pradesh police nor central agencies have confirmed any investigation into the allegations. BJP leaders have dismissed Kejriwal's statements as politically motivated, especially ahead of upcoming state elections.
Kejriwal’s visit to Ayodhya is seen as an attempt to connect with Hindu voters, as his party seeks to expand its base beyond Delhi and Punjab. The AAP has been accused of being selective in its criticism of the BJP, while the ruling party has maintained that the temple is a matter of faith and should not be politicised.