Donation row: SIT Will reveal the truth, says Yogi

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Lucknow/Ayodhya (UP), June 19 

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday appealed for restraint and patience amid allegations of fund embezzlement linked to the Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe will establish the truth. Speaking in Ayodhya on Friday, Adityanath said devotees should avoid drawing conclusions until the investigation is completed. He urged people not to make comments that could hurt religious sentiments or damage the reputation of the temple town.

The three-member SIT was constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government earlier this month after the Ram temple trust sought an investigation into allegations that donation funds had been misappropriated.

“I assure devotees that the investigation will bring out the complete truth,” Adityanath said, adding that anyone with evidence should submit it to the SIT. He also warned that those found guilty, irrespective of their status or position, would face action.

Addressing devotees, the chief minister invoked the principle of “maryada” — righteous conduct and restraint — associated with Lord Ram. He asked people to wait for the findings of the inquiry and not be influenced by what he described as attempts to defame Ayodhya or the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

The controversy emerged after Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav cited media reports alleging that crores of rupees donated to the temple were unaccounted for. He called for judicial intervention and a thorough investigation into the matter.

The allegations have since triggered a political confrontation between the ruling BJP and opposition parties.

Adityanath used the occasion to criticise the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, accusing them of opposing Ayodhya’s rise as a major religious and cultural centre. He also alleged that both parties had historically created obstacles in the movement linked to the Ram temple.

The chief minister reiterated that the investigation should be allowed to proceed without speculation or personal attacks, stressing that preserving the dignity of Ayodhya and maintaining public trust were equally important.

Earlier in the day, Adityanath inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 126 development projects worth more than Rs 378 crore in Ayodhya and unveiled a statue of warrior Jhalkari Bai.