Ram Mandir donation theft has tarnished India's image: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday alleged that the reported embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya had angered followers of Sanatan
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday alleged that the reported embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya had angered followers of Sanatan Dharma across the world and damaged India’s image abroad. He also claimed the controversy was affecting investor confidence and accused the BJP government of losing credibility. In separate posts on X, Yadav also rejected BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s allegation linking him to Ramshankar alias Tinnu Yadav, an accused in the case. He described the charge as false and accused the BJP of using discredited people to spread lies. Read Full Story Yadav said, “The news of theft of offerings, donations and contributions from the Ayodhya temple has spread across the world.
Followers of Sanatan Dharma living in different countries are ashamed because of the disrepute caused by the BJP and its associates. They are also hurt because many of them had donated to the temple or personally offered contributions.” The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister further claimed that the country was suffering a loss of reputation because of the alleged actions of what he called the “BJP’s irreligious elements”. He also said the controversy was hurting investor sentiment. “Investors across the world are withdrawing because they feel that if a government cannot safeguard even donations made to its own deity, how can it protect our investments tomorrow? The BJP government has completely lost its religious, cultural, political and economic credibility,” he said.
On the allegation made by Dubey, Yadav said, “The BJP committed a mistake by getting false allegations made through people whose personal record has historically been infamous and whose deeply corrupt social and political image is such that even leaders of their own party do not want them around.” He added, “They have neither their own voice nor their own ideas. They are merely instruments in the hands of others. They have no personal credibility.” The controversy follows claims by several donors and other individuals that costly items, including a gold Ramcharitmanas, silver bricks and other precious gifts, were missing or had not been properly acknowledged. The Uttar Pradesh government then set up a Special Investigation Team to probe the allegations, and the SIT has arrested eight accused in connection with the alleged embezzlement of cash offerings.
Amid increasing scrutiny, the Trust on Monday accepted the resignations of its general secretary Champat Rai and member Anil Mishra, and appointed Krishna Mohan as interim general secretary at a Trust meeting. The case has since triggered political attacks, with Yadav alleging damage to India’s reputation and the BJP rejecting his position while linking him to one of the accused. Ends
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