Ayodhya, June 19 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe alleged embezzlement at the Ram Temple will bring out the truth without any doubt, and also urged devotees not to get ‘influenced’ by attempts to tarnish the image of the temple and also the holy city.

The Chief Minister strongly criticised Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), condemning them for their ‘double standards’ regarding Lord Ram. He also brought up their previous conduct that hindered the construction of the magnificent temple in Ayodhya and questioned the authenticity of the Hindu epic Ramayan.

CM Yogi’s assurance of a fair probe into the embezzlement controversy in Ram Mandir’s ‘chadhawa’ (offerings) comes close on the heels of Opposition parties raising hue and cry over mishandling of funds allegedly by the temple’s own staff. FIRs have also been filed against some suspects, with many blaming the Temple Trust officials for ‘pocketing’ gold and jewellery offered at the temple.

Addressing a gathering in Ayodhya’s Rudauli, CM Yogi said that those claiming a scam in temple funds are the ones who opposed the Ram Temple movement and also got their governments fire bullets at devotees as well as ‘kar sevaks’.

“Look at their double standards. Congress party tried to prevent the construction of a grand temple in Ayodhya but is now pretending to be deeply concerned about it. They submitted affidavits in the Supreme Court questioning the existence of Lord Ram, used all devious means with shamelessness, and today they are pretending to be saviours of devotees. They are getting restless over Ayodhya, claiming devotees have been insulted,” CM Yogi said.

Hitting out at SP’s ‘duplicity’, he said, “They claim Ram bhakts have been insulted. These are the same people who ordered firing on kar sevaks and baton-charged bhakts chanting Jai Shri Ram. Now, they are preaching others.”

The Chief Minister, speaking on the SIT investigation, said that the three-member team was constituted at the request of the Temple Trust and said that the enquiry will unmask the irregularities.

“We have constituted an SIT investigation at the request of the Trust. I can assure you that the SIT inquiry will bring out the complete truth without any doubt,” the Chief Minister told the audience, while also urging them to submit ‘evidence’ to SIT if anyone has.

The Chief Minister also called upon the devotees to uphold the values of dignity and devotion associated with the temple and asked them not to get influenced by attempts to defame Ayodhya or the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.

–IANS

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