Extremely serious, worrying: Mayawati on Ayodhya Ram temple donation probe

Published 30 June 2026 · india

BSP chief Mayawati on Tuesday described the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya as "extremely serious and worrying", while saying the

BSP chief Mayawati on Tuesday described the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya as "extremely serious and worrying", while saying the issue should not be politicised. Her remarks came as investigations continued into the alleged theft of offerings at the temple. In a post on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said action should be taken against those responsible, and suggested that the temple adopt the accounting system followed by other well-known temples in the country to avoid such complaints in future. Read Full Story "The media reports appearing every day regarding the theft, embezzlement and misappropriation of offerings at the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya are extremely serious and worrying.

Such people should not be spared under any circumstances, but it is also not right to politicise this issue," she said. She added, "At the same time, to ensure that no complaints arise in future regarding the offerings made by devotees at the temple, it would be appropriate to adopt the system followed by other renowned and famous temples in the country for maintaining accounts of donations and offerings, and resolve this matter at the earliest." Mayawati also said, "Criminalisation of politics, the politicisation of crime, the politicisation of religion and the blind religiousisation of politics should all be avoided.

This would be proper and in keeping with the Constitution. This is the BSP's advice to political parties in the interest of the nation and the people, and at the same time an appeal to the people of the country," she said in the post. Her post came amid ongoing probes by Ayodhya Police and a Special Investigation Team formed by the state government into the theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. So far, eight people linked to counting the donation cash have been arrested and sent to judicial custody in the case, even as demands grew for action against senior officials involved in the temple's management.

The case has led to police and SIT investigations, eight arrests so far, and renewed calls for accountability in the handling of donations at the Ram temple, even as Mayawati urged that the matter be dealt with seriously without giving it a political colour. Ends