Ram Temple donation row: UP Minister questions Akhilesh Yadav's source, seeks SIT probe
Synopsis
The Ram Temple donation row has taken a sharp new turn: instead of probing the alleged embezzlement, the BJP is now demanding an SIT inquiry into how Akhilesh Yadav — who has reportedly never visited the temple — came to know about the irregularities first. It is a classic counter-offensive, and it tells you everything about where UP politics is headed.
Key Takeaways
UP Minister Dharampal Singh on 15 July demanded an SIT probe into Akhilesh Yadav 's sources on the Ram Temple donation row.
Akhilesh Yadav was the first political leader to raise the alleged donation irregularities, via a social media post on 7 June .
Minister Singh claimed Yadav had never visited the Ram Temple or Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya for 'darshan'.
Minister Sanjay Nishad called Yadav's remarks 'baseless', citing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath 's assurance that the guilty would be punished.
The BJP has accused the SP chief of exploiting the controversy for electoral gain through 'Muslim appeasement'.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Dharampal Singh on Wednesday, 15 July questioned Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav's informants who allegedly first tipped him off about the purported embezzlement of donations at Ayodhya's Ram Temple, and called for a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the source of that information. The remarks sharpen a political standoff that has been building since June 7, when Akhilesh Yadav became the first prominent opposition leader to publicly raise the donation irregularity row.
Background: How the Row Began
The controversy was ignited on 7 June when Akhilesh Yadav raised the alleged 'theft' of offerings and donations at the Ram Temple through a social media post, demanding a judicial inquiry into the matter. The allegation quickly became a flashpoint between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the SP, with both sides trading accusations in the weeks that followed.
A day before Minister Singh's statement, Akhilesh Yadav had accused the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh of trying to distract the public. In a post on X, Yadav wrote: 'After the theft of 'offerings-donations-charity' came to light, the BJP has become frantic. To divert the public's attention, it is resorting to childish antics. This is only fueling the growing anger among the people against the BJP members and their associates. The pettiness of the BJP's negative mindset is increasing day by day.' He added: 'As a party, the BJP no longer has any soul left. Innumerable incurable wounds of 'religion-wealth theft' have emerged on its body. The BJP has descended into political delirium. Everyone is busy trying to save themselves. The BJP is finished!'
What Minister Dharampal Singh Said
Hitting back, Minister Dharampal Singh pointed out that Akhilesh Yadav had reportedly never visited the Ram Janmabhoomi or the Ram Temple in Ayodhya for 'darshan', even as some SP legislators had. 'Akhilesh Yadav was the first to raise this issue, so this should also be investigated — who were the sources that informed him about it first? This proves that something is definitely wrong and this, too, should be probed by the SIT,' he said.
Singh further accused Yadav of exploiting the controversy for electoral gain, alleging the SP chief was 'doing politics on this' and was 'only concerned about winning Muslim votes' through what Singh called 'Muslim appeasement' rather than genuine concern over donation irregularities.
Second UP Minister Joins the Rebuttal
Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad also weighed in, dismissing Akhilesh Yadav's remarks as 'baseless' and attributing the SP's opposition status to such conduct. 'The accused who were involved in the irregularities in Ayodhya will face action and not those who made the temple or the devotees,' he said. Nishad added that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had assured that the guilty would be punished and that action was already under way against those accused of wrongdoing.
What Happens Next
The BJP's demand for an SIT probe into Akhilesh Yadav's sources — rather than the donation irregularities themselves — signals an attempt to shift the political narrative. Whether the Uttar Pradesh government formally constitutes such an SIT, or whether the original allegation of donation embezzlement at the Ram Temple leads to its own independent inquiry, remains to be seen. The row is likely to intensify as both parties manoeuvre ahead of local political contests in the state.
Point of View
A move that historically lands well with the party's base but does little to address the original allegation of donation embezzlement. Notably, neither side has yet produced verified figures on the scale of the alleged irregularities. Until the SIT on the original complaint delivers findings, both parties are essentially fighting over the narrative, not the facts — and Uttar Pradesh voters are watching both.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ram Temple donation row about?
The row centres on allegations of embezzlement of offerings and donations made at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav first publicly raised the issue on 7 June, demanding a judicial inquiry into the alleged irregularities.
Why is UP Minister Dharampal Singh questioning Akhilesh Yadav's sources?
Minister Dharampal Singh argued that since Akhilesh Yadav — who reportedly never visited the Ram Temple — was the first to raise the donation theft allegation, the source of his information should itself be probed by an SIT. He suggested this points to a larger conspiracy.
What has the UP government said about punishing the accused?
Minister Sanjay Nishad stated that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has assured that those found guilty of irregularities at Ayodhya will face action, and that proceedings against the accused are already under way.
What did Akhilesh Yadav say about the BJP's response?
In a post on X, Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of becoming 'frantic' after the donation theft came to light and said the party was resorting to 'childish antics' to divert public attention, adding that the BJP 'is finished'.
What happens next in the Ram Temple donation controversy?
The BJP has called for an SIT probe into Akhilesh Yadav's sources, while the original allegation of donation embezzlement at the Ram Temple remains under scrutiny. Whether either inquiry is formally constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government is yet to be confirmed.
