SP chief accuses BJP of trying to communalise Ram Temple donation controversy, invokes party’s history of Muslim contributions
September 5, 2026: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has launched a fresh and sharp attack on the BJP over the controversy surrounding alleged misappropriation of donations made by devotees to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, accusing those responsible of “looting Ram Dhan” and then attempting to turn the issue into a communal confrontation.
“Those who have robbed Ram Dhan, stolen the money of faith, are panicking,” Yadav said, according to a statement issued by the Samajwadi Party.
In a pointed political charge, Yadav alleged that the BJP was now trying to communalise the controversy rather than answer questions over the handling of devotees’ offerings.
He further invoked the BJP’s own political history, claiming that when the party’s first president was appointed, the BJP received its largest share of donations from Muslims.
The remarks come against the backdrop of a major controversy over the handling of donations and valuables at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex. An FIR was registered in June against eight people associated with the counting of cash and valuables after an SIT investigation flagged serious procedural lapses. All eight accused were subsequently arrested.
The alleged financial irregularities have since become a major political flashpoint in Uttar Pradesh. Yadav has repeatedly demanded greater transparency and questioned whether the investigation would reach those ultimately responsible. The temple trust, meanwhile, has faced growing pressure to strengthen its systems for counting and managing donations.
In August, Yadav accused the BJP of “running away” from a debate on the alleged theft of Ram Temple offerings, claiming that large sums had been removed from the donation system and alleging that influential figures were involved. The BJP and its affiliates have rejected the opposition’s political framing of the controversy.
The latest intervention raises the political temperature further. With Uttar Pradesh heading towards the 2027 Assembly election, the battle over Ayodhya is increasingly moving beyond the temple itself to questions of faith, money, accountability and political ownership of Ram.
Yadav’s central argument is stark: if Ram belongs to the faith of millions, then Ram Dhan cannot belong to any political party.
The investigation into the alleged donation irregularities remains ongoing, and the precise extent of any financial loss or criminal liability is yet to be finally established. Because apparently even divine accounting requires an audit trail.
JANPATH NEWS NETWORK (JNN)
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