Ram Temple embezzlement episode hurt devotees, says CM Yogi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. File | Photo credit: ANI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in Lucknow on Wednesday (July 15, 2026) that the misappropriation of donations at the Ram temple had hurt the devotees, but added that the attempt by opposition parties, especially the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress, to malign Ayodhya and Ram Janmifiedhoomi was unfair. “The Ayodhya incident has certainly hurt the faith of all Ram devotees like us. The Ram Temple Trust is an independent body and the government has no power to interfere in its affairs. The trust asked for an inquiry and the state government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT). As soon as the SIT report came, action was initiated,” he said.

Mr. Adityanath added that six persons allegedly involved in the embezzlement have been arrested, while two others accused of aiding and abetting have also been taken into custody. “Along with the police action, there were also two resignations on moral grounds. But using this incident to malign Ayodhya, Ram Janmabhoomi and the faith of Hindus is wrong,” he said, accusing the SP and Congress of politicizing the issue. “This is the policy of the very people who ordered the police to shoot the Karsevaks, followers of Lord Ram. They have no moral standing to speak on this issue,” he added.

Accusing the previous governments of corruption and unemployment, the UP CM said, “Before 2017, Uttar Pradesh neither had job opportunities for the youth nor a transparent recruitment system. Government jobs were under the control of one family and nothing could be done without paying money. Uttar Pradesh was never a BIMARU state; rather, the thinking and functioning of the then government was the biggest 2017 by the then government sick state.”

He added, “In the last nine years, the state government has provided more than nine million government jobs for youth in a completely transparent process, while more than 3.25 million youth and artisans have been linked to employment and self-employment.”

Published – 15 Jul 2026 15:41 IST