Ayodhya Ram Temple Donations Trigger Political Storm
Samajwadi Party chief alleges discrepancies in temple donation funds Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust says audit process is underway and no irregularities have been found.
New Delhi, June 08 : The Ayodhya Ram Temple donation row has intensified after Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav alleged that a substantial amount of money received as donations at the temple has gone missing. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister raised concerns over the handling of donation funds and demanded transparency from both the authorities and the temple trust.
In a social media post on Sunday, Yadav described the reports as deeply concerning for devotees of Lord Ram across the world. He said the issue was linked to the faith of millions and questioned why no detailed clarification had been issued regarding the alleged discrepancies.
Calling for judicial intervention, Yadav urged the courts to take suo motu cognizance of the matter. He also questioned the silence of the state government, suggesting that the lack of a comprehensive response had created further doubts among devotees.
Responding to the allegations, Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said the trust follows a regular audit mechanism. According to Rai, representatives of the trust and the State Bank of India jointly monitor and verify donation records, while the audit process remains ongoing. He maintained that no major irregularities have surfaced so far.
Trustee Mahant Dineendra Das also addressed the controversy, stating that any wrongdoing, if proven, would not go unpunished. He said the trust would abide by any decision taken by the competent authorities and the government.
Unsatisfied with the explanation, Yadav later said the trust’s response lacked clarity and failed to address key questions. He called for a meeting of all trustees and suggested that available CCTV records be matched with donation figures to establish the facts.
The opposition leader further argued that a more detailed clarification should have been provided much earlier. According to him, the limited response from both the trust and the government has only added to public speculation surrounding the issue.
The controversy has sparked a fresh political debate in Uttar Pradesh, with demands for greater transparency in the management and auditing of temple donations continuing to grow.
