Ex-BJP MP terms Ram temple funds row ‘serious’; insult to Sanatana Dharma: Akhilesh Yadav

A day after the Uttar Pradesh government formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe alleged irregularities in the donations received by the Ram Temple Trust, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Vinay Katiyar termed the matter “very serious” and said some members involved in running the trust were “thieves”. Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav called the episode an “insult to Sanatana Dharma”. 

“The investigation is on and it is a serious matter. People have sacrificed for the temple. People like us, Kalyan Singh sacrificed the government, people went to jail, afterwards the temple issue progressed. Some present there are thieves, we will remove them. Either they will run away or we will throw them out,” said Mr. Katiyar, a former MP who represented both the Houses, and a key figure of the Ram Temple agitation.

Reacting to the SIT probe, Mr. Yadav said it was “very unfortunate” that officials will investigate priests of the temple. “It is an insult to the Sanatana Dharma that such a prestigious temple has to be probed. Officials will investigate those who uphold our faith. What greater misfortune could there be? It is shameful for every person who believes in Sanatana Dharma, the entire country is watching.”

The Congress described the allegations as a “question mark” on faith, accountability and trust, and said the BJP cannot “evade responsibility”. “The alleged misappropriation of devotees’ donations at the Ram Mandir is a question of faith, accountability and trust. When an institution built on the devotion of millions faces such serious allegations, transparency cannot be optional. The BJP, which sought political dividends from the temple, cannot now evade responsibility when questions arise. An independent, credible probe must reveal the truth and fix accountability. Prabhu Ram deserves better than secrecy and silence,” wrote Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi, on X. 

Shahnawaz Alam, national secretary of the Congress, demanded a high-level investigation and flagged shady real estate dealings. “Some time back, it came to light that powerful people bought land around the temple and made profit from booming real estate prices. But the government didn’t act. The intention from the beginning of those controlling the management has been mala fide. We demand that the truth must come out in public as corruption cannot be allowed in such a sacred place,” he said.