New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) The BJP on Monday criticised Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his remarks on the Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case, asserting that the SP and the Congress have no moral right to question the issue as they had consistently opposed the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Reacting to Akhilesh Yadav’s criticism of the Uttar Pradesh government, the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak described the incident as very unfortunate but accused the Opposition parties of attempting to politicise a matter related to people’s faith.

Speaking to reporters, Pathak said, “The incident is very unfortunate. However, the people of this country and every follower of Sanatan Dharma know that the Samajwadi Party and the Congress have consistently opposed the Ram Temple. They used to claim that it was not even certain that Lord Ram was born in Ayodhya. They even argued before the Supreme Court that Ram Lalla’s birthplace had not been established.”

He further claimed that the Congress and the Samajwadi Party had no right to raise questions on the issue.

“They have made several remarks against Lord Ram. Lord Ram will not forget what they have said. They have repeatedly tried to defame Sanatan Dharma. I again ask them to introspect and explain why they remain silent on the Waqf Board and its properties. They will have to face the consequences of the statements they have made about Lord Ram,” Pathak said.

BJP spokesperson R.P. Singh also criticised the SP leadership, saying that those who had chosen not to visit the Ram Temple should refrain from questioning issues related to it.

“I would request you to definitely visit the Ram Temple. Even when the consecration ceremony took place, you had the opportunity to visit, but you did not. Even your leaders are not visiting. Therefore, you do not have the right to raise questions on this issue. It is not justified to question our faith in Lord Ram,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey refrained from entering the political exchange and said the matter should be viewed from the perspective of faith rather than politics.

“We do not want to say anything about them. We do not want to take the names of the BJP or the Congress here. This is a matter of our devotion to Lord Ram. We stand with Lord Ram with our body, mind and wealth,” Dubey said.

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP, Supriya Sule also demanded a comprehensive investigation into the alleged embezzlement, stressing that any corruption at religious places must be dealt with strictly.

Speaking to IANS, Sule said, “We will demand a full enquiry into this matter. From Ayodhya to Ujjain, these are places of our faith and devotion. We deeply respect these sacred sites. If there is any corruption in such places of faith, we will fight against it with full strength.”

She recalled the long struggle for the construction of the Ram Temple and said many senior leaders had dedicated years to the movement.

“Whether it was Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj or several other leaders, they struggled for nearly 15 to 20 years for the construction of the Ram Temple. The donations came from devotees across India and abroad. Therefore, a proper enquiry should be conducted. If any wrongdoing has taken place, it is extremely serious,” she said.

The political controversy erupted after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, on June 28, criticised the Uttar Pradesh government over the alleged embezzlement of Ram Mandir donations. Taking a swipe at the ruling dispensation, the former Chief Minister remarked that “for some, donation comes before the nation.”

Akhilesh also questioned how the alleged financial irregularities could have gone unnoticed despite Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s frequent visits to Ayodhya.

Earlier, BJP national spokesperson Ajay Alok had alleged that one of the accused in the Ram Janmabhoomi temple donation embezzlement case, Ramashankar Yadav alias Tinnu Yadav, had been in contact with Akhilesh Yadav through phone conversations.

Speaking to IANS, Alok claimed that more revelations in the case were yet to emerge.

“The actions of the Samajwadi Party are gradually being exposed. It is also being reported that Tinnu Yadav had several phone conversations with Akhilesh Yadav. As more layers are uncovered, the country will come to know the truth about who was behind these alleged thefts,” he claimed.

–IANS

jk/rad