Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi on Wednesday (July 8) defended the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust over the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case. He said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) found evidence against only eight people out of nearly 150 involved in counting temple donations. He said it was wrong to defame the entire Trust or Ayodhya because of the actions of a few individuals.
Addressing a public meeting in Chitrakoot after inaugurating development projects worth over ₹950 crore, Yogi accused the Congress and the Samajwadi Party of trying to malign Ayodhya and insult the legacy of Lord Ram. He said the Opposition became active only after getting an issue to target the holy city.
‘Trust Itself Sought SIT Probe’
The Chief Minister said the Trust itself informed the state government about the alleged theft during donation countingand requested a high-level SIT investigation. He said the government accepted the recommendation and constituted the SIT.
Yogi said the probe found direct evidence against six people, while two others took part in the conspiracy. Based on the SIT’s findings, the Trust lodged an FIR and authorities took action against all eight accused. He added that the culprits were already in jail.
‘Don’t Blame Ayodhya for a Few People’s Actions’
Yogi said around 150 people participate in counting offerings at the Ram Temple, but investigators found only a handful involved in the alleged theft. He urged devotees of Lord Ram and everyone who respects India’s faith to remain cautious and not allow anyone to misuse the issue.
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He questioned the Opposition’s criticism and asked why it continued to target the Trust and Ayodhya after action had already been taken against the accused. He said attacking the entire Trust and insulting Ayodhya over the mistakes of a few people had no justification.
Attack on Congress and SP
The Chief Minister alleged that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party had taken it upon themselves to attack India’s faith. He said both parties had always criticised Ayodhya and were now trying to exploit the donation theft case for political gains.
Yogi said strict action had already begun and those responsible would face the law. He added that people should not allow political parties to use the incident to tarnish Ayodhya’s image or undermine the faith of millions of devotees.
