Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Dismisses Embezzlement Controversy Surrounding Ayodhya Ram Mandir Donations

NEW DELHI: Brajesh Pathak, the Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, addressed reporters on Friday regarding the controversy over alleged embezzlement linked to donations made for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He emphasized that attention should also be directed towards the funds collected for the Babri Masjid, suggesting that there has been insufficient scrutiny regarding those donations.

Pathak accused the Samajwadi Party and Congress of engaging in what he termed the “politics of appeasement” aimed at attracting Muslim voters, while also undermining the Sanatan culture in the process. “Did money get collected for the Babri Masjid or not? It was indeed collected. Who is questioning that? The Samajwadi Party and Congress are focusing solely on appeasing a particular vote bank,” he stated.

He further contended, “Our government maintains a stance of zero tolerance against corruption and misconduct. However, the issue surrounding the donations for the Babri Masjid warrants attention. The ongoing questions about prominent individuals named in the FIR are for the police to address, as they are conducting an impartial investigation. The real inquiry should be directed at those in the Samajwadi Party and Congress who are engaging in these appeasement tactics.”

Moreover, Pathak raised alarms about purported illegal activities within madrasas, alleging links to “terror funding”. “In our border districts, there are questionable operations within madrasas. An inquiry into where the funding is coming from is necessary. We must scrutinize the activities of maulanas in these institutions,” he warned.

These comments follow the lodging of an FIR against eight individuals regarding the alleged misappropriation of donations intended for the Ram Temple, which occurred just a day earlier. In a local court ruling earlier that day, all eight accused were remanded to judicial custody until June 29. They are set to be presented in court again on Monday.

The controversy surrounding the alleged irregularities has incited strong political reactions over the past fortnight. Former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey claimed that between **Rs 7 crore and Rs 7.5 crore** in temple donations had been misappropriated. Consequently, the Uttar Pradesh government established a three-member Special Investigative Team (SIT) on June 13, following a request for an inquiry from the Trust itself.

The SIT, led by Lucknow Divisional Commissioner **Vijay Vishwas Pant**, is tasked with investigating the processes of donation collection, counting, and storage, along with reviewing financial records and obtaining testimonies from nearly **150 individuals** linked to the temple administration. Preliminary reports from the SIT have suggested the need for administrative reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability, though the full details of the report remain undisclosed.