Lucknow, June 30: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday termed the alleged embezzlement and misappropriation of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as “extremely serious and worrying,” while also cautioning political parties against turning the issue into a political controversy.
In a post on social media platform X, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that repeated media reports regarding theft and irregularities in the handling of offerings made by devotees at the Shri Ram Temple were deeply concerning and required strict action against those responsible.
She stressed that anyone found guilty in the matter should not be spared, but added that the issue should not be used for political gains or narratives. Mayawati further suggested that a transparent and structured accounting system, similar to those followed by other major temples in the country, should be adopted to manage donations and offerings more effectively.
According to her, such a system would help prevent future complaints and ensure greater trust among devotees contributing offerings at religious sites. She urged that the matter be resolved at the earliest to maintain public confidence in the temple administration.
Mayawati also issued a broader caution against what she described as the increasing trend of mixing politics with crime and religion. She said that criminalisation of politics, politicisation of crime, and religious exploitation of politics must all be avoided in the interest of constitutional values.
Her remarks come at a time when investigations are underway by Ayodhya Police along with a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the state government to probe allegations of theft and embezzlement of temple donations.
So far, eight individuals associated with the counting and handling of donation funds have been arrested and placed in judicial custody. The case has also triggered demands for deeper scrutiny of temple management officials amid growing public concern over accountability in handling religious offerings.
Authorities continue to investigate the extent of irregularities, while the political response around the issue has added another layer of debate to an already sensitive case.