Saints slam Swami Prasad Maurya over Ram Temple remark, demand NSA action
Synopsis
Former UP minister Swami Prasad Maurya's reported claim that 'robbers looted the Ram Temple and Lord Ram couldn't protect his own assets' has triggered a fierce backlash from Hindu saints — with demands ranging from NSA detention to public ostracism. The row has fused a religious sentiments dispute with a live financial controversy over alleged donation embezzlement at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
Key Takeaways
Swami Prasad Maurya , SP leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister, reportedly made controversial remarks about the Ram Temple on Wednesday, 25 June .
Hindu saints demanded NSA action against Maurya and called for his public ostracism.
VHP National President Alok Kumar's demand for an FIR in the Ram Temple donation controversy was backed by multiple seers.
Mahant Deveshacharya Ji Maharaj and Swami Dilip Das Tyagi said only a formal police investigation could establish the truth.
No FIR had been registered as of Thursday, 25 June ; the matter has significant political implications in Uttar Pradesh .
Hindu saints and seers in Lucknow on Thursday, 25 June sharply condemned Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya over his remarks on the alleged embezzlement of donations at Ayodhya's Ram Temple, with several religious figures demanding legal action under the National Security Act (NSA) and backing the Vishva Hindu Parishad's (VHP) call for an FIR in the controversy.
What Swami Prasad Maurya Said
Maurya reportedly claimed on Wednesday that the temple had been looted of crores of rupees and that Lord Ram could not protect his own assets — remarks that immediately drew widespread outrage from Hindu religious communities. Maurya has previously courted controversy for comments on the Ramayana and Hindu deities, making this the latest in a series of disputed statements.
Saints Demand NSA Action, Public Ostracism
Dinesh Falahari, the petitioner in the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi case, said Maurya had a pattern of insulting Hindu scriptures and deities. 'Swami Prasad Maurya insulted our holy scripture, the Ramayana, in the past as well. He has insulted our gods and goddesses. Now, he has insulted 'Maryada Purushottam' Ram. No one has ever made such offensive remarks before. Swami Prasad has never said anything against Islam. Action under the National Security Act (NSA) should be taken against such a person,' Falahari said. He further demanded that anyone who insults Hindu deities be publicly ostracised.
Mahant Bhakt Charan Das Maharaj said the remarks amounted to an insult to the entire Hindu community. 'Speaking ill of Lord Ram is an insult to the entire Hindu community. Action is being taken regarding the incident at the Ram Mandir, but by using derogatory language, Swami Prasad Maurya has hurt the sentiments of Lord Ram devotees. Legal action should be taken against him,' he said.
VHP's FIR Demand Gets Religious Backing
Mahant Deveshacharya Ji Maharaj endorsed the VHP National President Alok Kumar's call for a formal police complaint. 'The appropriate demand made by VHP National President Alok Kumar is praiseworthy. It is a good thing that allegations and counter-allegations are being made, but the truth must come out clearly. Only when an FIR is registered and a proper investigation is conducted will the truth be revealed,' he said.
Swami Dilip Das Tyagi went further, demanding that police immediately investigate what he described as wrongdoers. 'An FIR must certainly be registered. Once the FIR is registered, an investigation will follow, and all the guilty parties will be caught. I support the Vishva Hindu Parishad's demand and urge that an FIR be registered, and the police immediately investigate these looters, dacoits, thieves, fraudsters, and scammers,' he said. Several priests who spoke to reporters also backed the VHP's position.
The Ram Temple Donation Controversy
The broader dispute centres on allegations of financial irregularities in the collection and management of donations at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The VHP has demanded a formal FIR, arguing that a police investigation is the only way to establish accountability. Mahant Bhakt Charan Das Maharaj reiterated that the Ram Mandir 'is a centre of faith for Hindus' and that the guilty must be punished.
What Comes Next
No FIR had been registered as of Thursday. The controversy places the Samajwadi Party in a politically sensitive position ahead of upcoming electoral cycles in Uttar Pradesh. Whether law enforcement acts on the NSA demand or the VHP's FIR call will be closely watched by both religious and political observers in the state.
Point of View
But it signals how high the temperature has risen. The SP's silence on whether it endorses or distances itself from Maurya's framing will matter more than the saints' press conferences.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Swami Prasad Maurya say about the Ram Temple?
Swami Prasad Maurya reportedly claimed on Wednesday that robbers had looted the Ram Temple of crores of rupees and that Lord Ram could not protect his own assets. The remarks were made in the context of the ongoing controversy over alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
Why are saints demanding NSA action against Swami Prasad Maurya?
Religious figures argue that Maurya's remarks denigrated Lord Ram and insulted the sentiments of the Hindu community. Dinesh Falahari, the petitioner in the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi case, cited a pattern of such statements by Maurya and called for his detention under the National Security Act.
What is the Ram Temple donation controversy?
The controversy centres on allegations that donations collected at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya were embezzled or misappropriated. The VHP has demanded that police register an FIR so that a formal investigation can identify those responsible.
Has an FIR been registered in the Ram Temple donation case?
As of Thursday, 25 June, no FIR had been registered. Multiple saints and the VHP have demanded one, arguing that only a police investigation can bring the truth to light and ensure accountability.
What is the Samajwadi Party's position on Maurya's remarks?
The Samajwadi Party had not publicly distanced itself from Maurya's remarks as of the time of reporting. Maurya is a former Uttar Pradesh minister and a prominent SP leader whose statements frequently generate controversy on religious and caste issues.
