UP leaders clash over Ram temple donation controversy

Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav alleged a ₹140 crore donation theft linked to the Ram temple project and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of putting “donation first, nation second”. He raised the issue in Prayagraj, demanding a transparent investigation and linking the controversy to other alleged irregularities such as paper leaks and recruitment scams.

BJP leaders responded forcefully. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dismissed Yadav’s claims, reminding that the party’s government had halted violence against Ram devotees and highlighted ongoing development projects worth over ₹548 crore. He rebuked the Samajwadi Party for past actions against Ram supporters. BJP MP Ravi Kishan also attacked Yadav, urging him to focus on development rather than “encounter” debates and reiterating the government’s “zero‑tolerance” stance on crime. VHP international affairs head Alok Kumar pledged a transparent probe, saying no detail would be hidden.

Other BJP figures, including MLA Sidharth Nath Singh, criticised Yadav’s caste‑based politics and pointed to past inaction during his tenure as chief minister. The exchange has intensified the political rivalry ahead of the 2027 state elections, with both sides accusing the other of corruption and mismanagement while promoting their development record.