Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya had hurt the faith of devotees, but accused opposition parties of using the issue to defame Ayodhya and the Ram Janmabhumi.
Addressing an event, the Chief Minister said the matter was under investigation and that action had already been taken against those involved. He added that the temple trust had sought a probe, following which the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), leading to arrests in the case.
According to him, six people allegedly involved in the theft and two others accused of helping them have been taken into custody, while two members associated with the trust resigned on moral grounds.
Adityanath maintained that while the incident had "hurt the faith of Ram devotees", attempts to use it to malign Ayodhya and hurt religious sentiments were unjustified. He emphasised that the temple trust is an independent body and that the government does not interfere in its functioning.
Taking a sharp dig at opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, the Chief Minister described them as "two princes" accustomed to privilege. He alleged that they travel abroad and return to "divide society" along caste lines for political gain. He also accused opposition parties of politicising matters of faith despite, he said, having imposed restrictions on religious events such as the Kanwar Yatra, Ram Navami and Durga Puja before 2017.
Without naming specific individuals, Adityanath further alleged that those who had opposed the construction of the Ram temple and questioned the existence of Lord Ram were now raising concerns over the donation controversy. He also criticised what he described as a "one-way approach" to secularism under previous governments.
Referring to developments in the state, the Chief Minister said Uttar Pradesh had undergone significant transformation since 2017, with Ayodhya emerging as a major religious and economic hub. He noted that the influx of devotees to the Ram temple had boosted livelihoods across sectors, including small vendors, transport operators and hospitality businesses.
He also highlighted the economic impact of large-scale religious events, claiming that the recent Maha Kumbh had generated substantial income for local communities. According to him, crores of devotees attended the event, contributing to widespread economic activity.
Adityanath asserted that his government's nine-year tenure had been marked by transparency and development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the goal of a "developed India" was to ensure prosperity and opportunities for all citizens, with a focus on employment, women's empowerment and business growth.
Expressing confidence ahead of the next Assembly elections, he said Uttar Pradesh would set a new political record in 2027 with the return of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for a third consecutive term.
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