SP, Congress ‘attacking’ Sanatan faith, keep mum on Waqf issues: UP CM Yogi Adityanath
NEW DELHI, July 7: The Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP-RSS of “whitewashing” the theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya in order to protect the “real culprits” and demanded that details of all offerings be made public as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his “silence” on this issue.
The opposition party also alleged that the SIT of Uttar Pradesh government has been formed to “protect” bigwigs in the alleged embezzlement of donations and no one will believe in its report unless an independent Supreme Court-monitored investigation is carried out.
Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot demanded that the prime minister breaks his silence on the issue and the Ram temple trust be dissolved and a fresh one with religious leaders be formed.
He also claimed that the true “chaal, charitra aur chehra” (conduct, character and face) of the BJP, RSS and VHP now stand exposed.
Gehlot accused the BJP-RSS of having “captured” the administration of the temple in an “unauthorised manner”.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the “theft” of donations is a “grave betrayal of the faith” of crores of people of the country.
Reiterating the demands of the Congress, he said the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust be immediately dissolved and a new trust be formed including Shankaracharyas, Dharmacharyas, saints, and religious representatives.
“The public has no faith in the Uttar Pradesh government’s SIT.”
“The investigation of the case should be conducted independently under the supervision of a Supreme Court judge,” he said.
Ramesh further demanded that a complete account of the cash and material donations received for the Ram temple be made public.
Addressing a press conference here, Gehlot reiterated the party’s demands that the the trust should be dissolved, a probe under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Supreme Court be carried out, and the details of the donations made to the Ram temple by the people be made public to ensure transparency.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi should come forward on this issue but is not doing so,” he said.
Gehlot said the BJP-RSS ran the Ram temple movement for decades and it is because of that they were able to come to power.
YOGI ATTACKS OPP
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday slammed the Congress and Samajwadi Party for “attacking” Sanatan and asked why their mouths were “glued shut” when it came to Waqf issues.
He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating and laying foundation stones of 111 development projects worth more than Rs 384 crore in Pratapgarh.
“Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress, which are attacking the Sanatan faith over alleged theft of offerings at the Ram temple were silent on the Waqf land issue. Why are SP and Congress leaders’ mouths glued shut with Fevicol when it comes to Waqf matters?” he said.
Adityanath further alleged that SP wanted to see the Babri ‘gulami dhancha’ (structure), in an apparent reference to the demolished Babri mosque in Ayodhya and said that it was their pain that a grand Ram temple now exists there.
“For the past few days, they have been attacking India’s Sanatan faith through their statements.”
“Recall how the Congress once claimed that Lord Ram and Lord Krishna never existed.”
“They supported Babri structure and shed crocodile tears for it. But now, a grand Ram temple stands there, and this pains them,” he said.
He said that today, the Congress and the SP have changed their colours “like chameleons”.
“Even a chameleon must be feeling ashamed as SP and Congress change their colours faster than it does,” the chief minister said, mocking the two opposition parties for their claim that faith is being undermined in Ayodhya.
COURT GRANTS POLICE REMAND OF 3 ACCUSED
A local court in Ayodhya granted a one-day police remand for three of the eight accused arrested in connection with the alleged theft of donations from the Ram temple here, police sources said.
The court authorised the remand for Anukalp Mishra, Lavkush Mishra, and Karunesh Pandey, the sources added.
On June 29, a local court in Ayodhya sent all eight accused to 14 days of judicial custody.
According to the prosecution, custodial interrogation of the three individuals was necessary to confront them with new evidence gathered from the questioning of the five other accused who were in jail on July 5.
CHAMPAT RAI BREAKS SILENCE
Former Ram temple trust chief Champat Rai on Tuesday said he would respond to all allegations of embezzlement of donations against him after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) submits its final report.
In a handwritten letter addressed to “Ram devotees”, the former general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said “baseless allegations” have been levelled against him.
Rai said he observed ‘maun dharan’ (silence) over the allegations and noted that the SIT’s preliminary report had been presented before the trust’s general meeting. The report, which he said was initially marked “top secret”, has since been made public.
He said after the SIT submits its final report, he would respond point by point to the issues being raised and that “the entire truth” would come before the public. (PTI)
