The political confrontation over the alleged Ram Temple donation irregularities intensified in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, with Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav launching a fresh attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath challenged him to openly support the Krishna Janmabhoomi movement.
The controversy began after allegations surfaced that donations made at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya were misappropriated. Since then, the issue has triggered sharp exchanges between the ruling BJP and the opposition SP.
Akhilesh Yadav’s ‘4C Formula’ Targets BJP
Addressing a press conference, Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP government of abandoning its “nation first” approach and instead following what he called a “4C formula”—Chanda (donation), Chori (theft), Chaturai (cunning), and Chalaki (deceit).
The SP leader said his party’s “Socialist PDA Audit” had highlighted alleged irregularities in several areas, including recruitment examinations and issues linked to Ayodhya.
Yadav also claimed that questions surrounding the handling of Ram Temple donations had affected public confidence. He criticised the BJP government over repeated examination paper leaks, describing it as a “paper leak government” and alleging that the future of students and job aspirants was being put at risk.
Earlier, Yadav had also stated that if his party comes to power in Uttar Pradesh, it would further develop Ayodhya as a model religious city.
Yogi Adityanath Responds With Krishna Janmabhoomi Challenge
Responding during a public event in Hathras, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath challenged Akhilesh Yadav to publicly support the movement for the Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura, similar to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
The chief minister said Ayodhya had already been transformed through the efforts of Lord Ram’s devotees and urged the SP leader to visit Ram Lalla.
Questioning Yadav’s commitment, Adityanath asked why he was not openly backing the restoration of the Krishna Janmabhoomi if he was genuinely concerned about religious heritage.
The remarks have further intensified the political debate surrounding both the Ram Temple donation issue and the long-running legal dispute over the Krishna Janmabhoomi site in Mathura.
How the Ram Temple Donation Controversy Began
The controversy dates back to June 7, when Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan ‘Pawan’ Pandey alleged that between ₹5 crore and ₹7.5 crore collected as offerings at the Ram Temple had been siphoned off.
Following the allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 13 after receiving a request from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
The SIT is examining the allegations, while the matter has also reached the Supreme Court through a petition seeking an independent investigation into the alleged misappropriation of temple donations.
Political Heat Continues
With the investigation underway, both the BJP and the Samajwadi Party continue to use the issue to target each other ahead of future political battles in Uttar Pradesh.
While the opposition is demanding greater transparency in the management of temple donations, the ruling party has accused the SP of attempting to politicise a sensitive religious issue.
As the investigation progresses, the Ram Temple donation row is expected to remain a key political flashpoint in the state.
