Yogi Adityanath to Akhilesh: Visit Ram Temple, do penance for good sense amid donation row

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday advised Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and do penance to gain good sense, amid a growing row over donations for the temple construction.

The remarks came after Akhilesh Yadav questioned the transparency of funds collected for the Ram Temple project, alleging that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was using the temple for political gains. In response, Yogi Adityanath said that those who question the sanctity of the Ram Temple should seek forgiveness and undergo penance.

“Those who do not have faith in Lord Ram should visit the temple and do penance. It will give them good sense,” Adityanath said while addressing a public event in Lucknow.

The donation row erupted after the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which oversees the temple construction, released a list of donors. Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the trust was not transparent about the use of funds. The Samajwadi Party chief also claimed that the temple project was being used to divert attention from pressing issues like unemployment and inflation.

Yogi Adityanath dismissed the allegations, saying that the Ram Temple is a symbol of faith for crores of Indians and that questioning it is an insult to the sentiments of the people. He urged Akhilesh Yadav to participate in the temple construction rather than criticise it.

The Ram Temple, currently under construction in Ayodhya, is expected to be completed by January 2024. The foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2020. The temple has been a contentious issue in Indian politics for decades, with the Supreme Court awarding the disputed land to the Hindu side in 2019.

Political analysts view the exchange as part of the ongoing rivalry between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2024 general elections. Both parties have been trading barbs over various issues, including development, law and order, and religious matters.

This report is based on verified statements from both leaders and official sources. No unverified claims have been included.