NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday went hammer and tongs against the opposition, which has put the BJP-RSS in the dock over the Ram Temple embezzlement case that has now transitioned into a full-blown political slugfest.A day after the Ram Mandir Trust accepted the resignation of Champat Rai from the position of general secretary, Yogi accused the rival political parties, Congress and the Samajwadi Party, of “making a mockery of Hindu faith” — the same allegation the opposition has been levelling against the BJP.Intensifying the exchange of verbal inferno with the opposition, which has been continuing ever since the pilferage charges came to the fore, Yogi asked why the anti-NDA bloc remained muted when hectares of land across the nation were “sold off in the name of the Wakf”.“Regarding the alleged theft in Ayodhya, over which you are making a mockery of Hindu faith, tell me, did you speak up even once about thousands of hectares of land, both within the state and across the country, being sold off in the name of the Wakf. This land belonged to the poor and the weaker sections of society. This was land that could have been allotted to the poor via leases; where convention centers could have been built; where shops and commercial establishments could have been created for poor traders,” Yogi said while tearing into the opposition.The UP chief minister continued his incessant tirade against the arch-rival Samajwadi Party, saying: “Was Hindu faith not hurt when they misused funds donated by Hindus—meant for religious sites—to build boundary walls for graveyards? Was Hindu faith not hurt when they ran illegal slaughterhouses, facilitated the killing of Gau Mata and allowed her to be crushed at the hands of smugglers? Was Hindu faith not hurt when they unleashed bullets and lathis upon Ram bhakts in Ayodhya?”Further taking a dig at the political nemesis, Yogi said: “Even a chameleon would likely feel embarrassed when compared to these ‘Samajwadis’ and Congress members, thinking; look, a new species has emerged that changes colours even faster than we do”.
SIT finds prima facie evidence of theft
Meanwhile, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has found prima facie evidence of theft and pilferage during the counting of donations at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, according to its preliminary report submitted to the Uttar Pradesh government.The inquiry examined CCTV footage, statements of trust officials, bank officers, security personnel and counting staff, along with bank records, seizure documents, the MoU and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).The report states that CCTV footage available from April 27 to June 5 repeatedly shows some counting personnel concealing bundles of currency notes and loose cash inside their clothes, pockets, shoes and other hidden places. It also records instances where other employees appeared to assist or shield such activities.According to the SIT, the available footage documents around 70 instances of alleged theft or pilferage during the period under review. Based on employee statements and discrepancies between counted cash and bank deposits, the report says similar incidents may also have occurred before April 27, although the absence of older CCTV footage prevented assessment of their actual extent.The report says prescribed security measures, including frisking, biometric attendance, restrictions on personal belongings, CCTV monitoring and other safeguards provided under the trust’s SOPs, were not effectively implemented.
