Akhilesh is spreading ‘fabricated lies’ about Ram temple, says BJP

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called the clarification “suspicious” and said the disappearance of funds was a “normal thing” for the trust, which they “don’t even consider ‘remarkable’ anymore”. File | Photo credit: ANI

A day after Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav alleged that crores of rupees were missing from donations made to the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai on Monday (June 8, 2026) dismissed the claim, saying an internal audit had been launched. The BJP also hit back, accusing Mr Yadav of spreading “fabricated lies” that would have “repercussions” in the 2027 state elections.

“Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra undergoes internal audits from time to time. The representatives of the trust and State Bank of India are involved in this exercise. The audit process is taking several days. The same work is being done these days. Nothing remarkable has come to light so far,” Mr. Rai said in a statement.

Mr Yadav called the clarification “suspicious” and said the disappearance of funds was a “normal thing” for the trust, which they “don’t even consider ‘remarkable’ anymore”.

In a lengthy post on X, the leader demanded that all members of the trust “come together to give an explanation and that CCTV evidence be used to verify the data”.

“Once all the confidants are together, the truth will come out immediately… It should also be clarified why it took so many hours to come up with a 40-second explanation and why even a minute’s talk in the name of clarification turns out to be costly,” he said.

Mr Yadav added that “the clarification is also suspect”. “The explanation seems to be only a verbal formality. The Sanatan society of the whole world has become even more suspicious and hurt by this very weak explanation,” he wrote.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak accused Mr Yadav of a “failed attempt” to fabricate lies by spreading rumours, saying the SP leader’s mindset was “Babar-centric”. He said the SP would “suffer the consequences” and lose the 2027 polls.

“SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, you never respected Supreme Court decision… You did not welcome the installation of Lord Shri Ram idol. Now you are unsuccessfully trying to fabricate lies by spreading rumours… Samajwadi Party will bear the consequences in coming days. In 2027, Samajwadi Party will face defeat. Your acts of state lies will never be understood.” Pathak.

On June 7, Mr. Yadav released a “very sensitive message to Lord Ram devotees worldwide” claiming that “millions of rupees of offerings for ‘Ram Temple’ have been found missing.”

He said it was a “deeply embarrassing situation” for the temple trust and no one was willing to explain. “There is a demand for the court to take suo motu cognizance as it directly relates to the deep faith of the entire Sanatani community at the global level in Lord Ram. The government’s silence is suspect,” he wrote.

Published – 08 Jun 2026 22:38 IST