Brajesh Pathak on Friday accused the opposition of using the Ram Temple donation controversy for political gains, alleging that the issue was part of a larger conspiracy involving the Samajwadi Party and the Indian National Congress.
Speaking to reporters in Mirzapur, Pathak questioned why similar scrutiny was not applied to donations collected for the demolished Babri Masjid.
“The Babri Masjid also collected donations. Nobody is asking what happened to that money. The Samajwadi Party and the Congress are only indulging in appeasement politics and attacking Sanatan Dharma to woo Muslim voters,” Pathak said.
Remarks come after FIR in Ram Temple donation case
His comments came a day after Uttar Pradesh Police registered an FIR in connection with alleged embezzlement of donations and valuables at the Ram Mandir.
The case was filed following recommendations by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), and eight people have already been arrested.
The accused include staff involved in the counting and handling of cash and valuables donated by devotees. Police have booked them under charges of theft, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy.
Opposition alleges senior officials protected
Opposition parties have questioned the investigation, alleging that only lower-level employees have been named while senior functionaries of the temple trust have been kept out of the FIR.
When asked about this criticism, Pathak defended the investigation and said the BJP government follows a strict policy of zero tolerance against corruption.
“Are you in the police or are we? The police will investigate the matter impartially,” he said.
Pathak raises Babri Masjid donation question
Pathak repeatedly urged reporters to ask opposition leaders about the funds collected for Babri Masjid before its demolition in 1992.
His remarks appear aimed at shifting the focus of the controversy while intensifying political attacks on opposition parties ahead of upcoming political battles in Uttar Pradesh.
Fresh claims over illegal madrasas
During the same interaction, Pathak also alleged that illegal madrasas operating in border districts were receiving terror funding.
He said the state government has been identifying such institutions, shutting them down and taking legal action.
