Chitrakoot: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has strongly defended the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust amid allegations surrounding a theft case related to temple offerings. Addressing a public gathering in Chitrakoot on Wednesday, the Chief Minister slammed the opposition for allegedly attempting to malign the trust and politicize the matter.
Providing clarity on the investigation, CM Yogi stated that approximately 150 individuals are involved in the counting of offerings at the Ayodhya temple. Upon receiving information regarding potential pilferage, the Trust itself recommended a probe. Following this, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter.
“The investigation confirmed that only eight individuals were involved in the theft, which included six who were caught stealing and two who were part of the conspiracy,” the Chief Minister said. He emphasized that the Trust acted promptly based on the SIT’s findings by lodging an official First Information Report (FIR) and initiating necessary legal action.
Hitting out at political opponents, particularly the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, CM Yogi remarked that it was unjust to defame the entire trust or cast aspersions on Ayodhya based on the actions of a few individuals. He accused these parties of consistently trying to hurt the faith and sentiments of the people.
“The Trust took action as per the law. Where is the justification in defaming the entire trust or pointing fingers at the heritage of Lord Shri Ram?” he questioned. During his visit to Chitrakoot, the Chief Minister inaugurated development projects worth over Rs 950 crore.
In his address, the Chief Minister also launched a broader attack on the Samajwadi Party, alleging that its leaders have historically maintained a distance from Lord Ram and previously labeled religious figures and places as imaginary. Additionally, he criticized the management of Waqf properties, alleging large scale irregularities and unauthorized occupation of land, describing it as a direct act of looting.