A fresh political confrontation erupted in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) exchanged sharp remarks over the alleged Ram Temple donation irregularities. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and SP president Akhilesh Yadav targeted each other over Ayodhya, governance and the long-pending Krishna Janmabhoomi issue.
Akhilesh Yadav Targets BJP Over Donation Controversy
Addressing a press conference, Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP government of failing to address serious questions surrounding the alleged Ram Temple donation case. He alleged that the ruling party had shifted its priorities from “nation first” to “donation first” and claimed that concerns over temple donation management had shaken public confidence.
The SP chief also criticised the state government over repeated examination paper leaks, alleging that Uttar Pradesh had earned the reputation of being a “paper leak government.”
Launching a fresh attack, Yadav said the BJP was functioning on a “4C formula” consisting of “chanda (donations), chori (theft), chaturai (cunning) and chalaki (deceit).”
He further claimed that the Samajwadi Party’s “Socialist PDA Audit” had highlighted alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and issues related to Ayodhya, adding that the government had failed to provide satisfactory answers to the questions raised by the opposition.
Yogi Adityanath Throws Krishna Janmabhoomi Challenge
Responding to Akhilesh Yadav’s criticism, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dismissed the SP leader’s remarks and asserted that Ayodhya had already undergone a historic transformation.
“Akhileshji, Ayodhya has already been transformed by Lord Ram’s devotees. Don’t worry about it. Repent, visit Ram Lalla once, at least, that will bring you some wisdom. Now, prepare so that we can also do something for Lord Krishna,” Adityanath said while addressing a public gathering in Hathras.
The Chief Minister also questioned Akhilesh Yadav’s commitment to religious issues, asking him to publicly support a movement for Krishna Janmabhoomi similar to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
“Why does not Akhilesh Yadav, who is shedding crocodile tears for Ayodhya, come out in the open and support the idea of a movement for the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi on the pattern of the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation and get the pride of Krishna Janmabhoomi restored?” he asked.
Political Battle Intensifies
The exchange of remarks comes as the Ram Temple donation controversy continues to dominate political discourse in Uttar Pradesh.
The issue first gained attention after allegations surfaced that funds from temple donations had been misappropriated, prompting the Uttar Pradesh government to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the claims.
While the BJP has accused the opposition of attempting to politicise matters of faith, the Samajwadi Party has continued to question the handling of the alleged financial irregularities and the government’s overall administrative record.
With both parties sharpening their attacks, the controversy has evolved into a wider political battle over governance, religious issues and accountability ahead of future electoral contests in the state.
