Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday questioned Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s silence regarding the Ram Temple donation theft case. Yadav also alleged that Ayodhya residents got unfair land compensation. This followed Adityanath’s demand that Yadav apologize for the 1990 firing on kar sevaks before his December 12 temple visit.
An apology demand over the 1990 firing on kar sevaks drew a counter from Akhilesh Yadav on temple donation theft and land compensation, setting off a war of words with Yogi Adityanath ahead of his Ayodhya visit.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday accused the Uttar Pradesh government of failing to act in the Ram Temple donation theft case and questioned Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's silence.
Yadav asked who had protected those involved despite an SIT investigation into the matter. "Why has the Chief Minister remained silent? Who will take responsibility?" he asked.
The former chief minister also alleged that Ayodhya residents had been humiliated and denied fair compensation for land acquired in the name of development.
His remarks came a day after Adityanath demanded an apology over the 1990 firing on kar sevaks, following the announcement that Yadav would visit the Ram Temple on December 12.
Though Adityanath did not name Yadav or the SP, he invoked the police firing that took place when Yadav's father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, was chief minister.
YOGI SEEKS APOLOGY BEFORE TEMPLE VISIT
Speaking at Ayodhya's Deepotsav on Saturday, Adityanath accused previous governments of neglecting the city and acting against Ram devotees and saints.
"Those who had neglected and insulted (Ayodhya), who opened fire on Ram devotees and subjected saints to lathicharge, should certainly come to Ayodhya, but only after apologising," he said.
"Let them apologise once to Ram devotees and once to the saints. Let them repent for their actions," he added.
He described Lord Ram as central to India's culture and national consciousness, credited devotees and saints for Ayodhya's revival, and highlighted its roads, airport and railway facilities.
HOW THE DONATION THEFT CASE UNFOLDED
While Yadav alleged a lack of action, the donation theft case has seen eight arrests and the filing of a chargesheet.
The allegations concern cash offerings being diverted during counting at the Ram Temple. After the temple trust sought an investigation, the state government constituted a three-member SIT.
The team submitted its preliminary report in June, and eight accused were arrested that month. The state government later sent the SIT's final report to the temple trust.
The SIT filed its chargesheet before an Ayodhya court on September 23. According to reported findings, investigators identified 105 instances of unauthorised removal or concealment of cash from the counting room.
Police recovered Rs 79.85 lakh allegedly linked to the suspected embezzlement from seven of the eight accused. Investigators also examined bank accounts, transactions and assets allegedly acquired with the diverted money.
On November 2, the Supreme Court disposed of petitions seeking a CBI investigation after the state confirmed that the SIT had filed its chargesheet.