Uttar Pradesh political row erupts over Sanatan and Ram Temple donations

A political dispute has emerged in Uttar Pradesh involving the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and lyricist Manoj Muntashir regarding religious identity and the management of the Ram Temple.

Lyricist Manoj Muntashir criticized Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, labeling him a ‘false Ram Bhakt’ and referencing the 1990 police firing during the Ayodhya movement. Muntashir also alleged that the Bollywood film industry is ‘leftist’ and claims that Sanatan traditions are often portrayed negatively in cinema.

Simultaneously, the Samajwadi Party responded to comments by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who compared the SP to the Mughal Emperor Babur. SP MP Dharmendra Yadav stated that the BJP should not act as the ‘custodians of Sanatan’ and challenged the Chief Minister to address issues such as unemployment, farmer income, and the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple. The Congress party also joined the criticism, demanding accountability regarding the misappropriation of temple funds.