Yogi Adityanath to visit Ayodhya on June 19 amid Ram Temple donation probe
Synopsis
As a three-member SIT races to submit its report on alleged missing Ram Temple donations, Yogi Adityanath's Ayodhya visit on June 19 — timed with the start of a high-profile Ram Katha — has become the political moment to watch. Whether the Chief Minister addresses the controversy publicly could determine how the BJP manages one of its most sensitive institutional flashpoints.
Key Takeaways
Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to visit Ayodhya on 19 June , coinciding with the start of a 10-day Shri Ram Katha .
A three-member SIT — comprising Vijay Vishwas Pant , Kiran S , and Neel Ratan — is probing allegations of missing donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple .
The SIT must submit a preliminary report in 7 days and a final report in 15 days .
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has accused temple authorities of large-scale financial mismanagement and called for judicial intervention.
The visit also marks the lead-up to Mahant Nritya Gopal Das 's 88th birthday on 27 June , with multiple chief ministers reportedly invited.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to visit Ayodhya on 19 June, a trip that has drawn heightened scrutiny as a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) probes allegations of missing donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. All eyes are on whether the Chief Minister will make a public statement on the controversy during his visit.
Why Yogi Is Visiting Ayodhya
The visit is timed with the commencement of a 10-day Shri Ram Katha beginning on 19 June, which marks the start of celebrations ahead of Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust chairman Mahant Nritya Gopal Das's 88th birth anniversary on 27 June. A conference of spiritual leaders is being organised on the occasion, and invitation letters have reportedly been sent to several chief ministers, with many said to have confirmed their attendance.
The Donations Controversy
Allegations of financial irregularities in Ram Temple donations first surfaced in local media before escalating into a national controversy. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav cited media reports of crores in unaccounted donations and publicly called for judicial intervention, accusing temple authorities of large-scale financial mismanagement and alleged siphoning of funds.
The SIT, constituted at Chief Minister Yogi's direction, comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan. The team has been directed to submit a preliminary report within seven days and a final report within 15 days. Investigators have already begun examining temple staff and scrutinising their conduct over the period in question.
Political Fallout
The controversy has rapidly become a flashpoint in Uttar Pradesh politics. Akhilesh Yadav's intervention has turned what began as a local media report into a state-level political storm, with opposition parties pressing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for accountability. The SIT probe is widely seen as the Yogi administration's attempt to get ahead of the narrative before the controversy deepens.
What Comes Next
With the SIT's preliminary report due within days, and Yogi Adityanath's Ayodhya visit on 19 June coinciding with the start of the Ram Katha, any statement from the Chief Minister on the donations row could set the tone for how the government handles the fallout. The final SIT report, expected within 15 days of the probe's formation, will be closely watched by both political parties and devotees.
Point of View
The Chief Minister can project devotional solidarity while the SIT handles the accountability optics. But the political risk is real: the Ram Janmabhoomi temple is the BJP's most totemic institution, and any finding of financial mismanagement — however peripheral — hands the opposition a durable narrative. Akhilesh Yadav's call for judicial intervention is a deliberate escalation, designed to keep the story alive past the SIT's 15-day window. The government's credibility now rests on whether the SIT report is seen as independent or as damage control.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Yogi Adityanath visiting Ayodhya on June 19?
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is visiting Ayodhya on 19 June to attend the commencement of a 10-day Shri Ram Katha, which kicks off celebrations ahead of Ram Janmabhoomi Trust chairman Mahant Nritya Gopal Das's 88th birthday on 27 June. The visit comes amid active scrutiny over the Ram Temple donations controversy.
What is the Ram Temple donation controversy?
Allegations of missing or unaccounted donations at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya first appeared in local media and escalated after SP chief Akhilesh Yadav cited reports of crores in unaccounted funds and demanded judicial intervention. The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a three-member SIT to investigate the claims.
Who is on the SIT probing the Ram Temple donations?
The Special Investigation Team comprises Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant, Inspector General of Police Kiran S, and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan. The SIT was formed at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's direction and must submit a preliminary report within seven days and a final report within 15 days.
What has Akhilesh Yadav said about the Ram Temple donations row?
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has accused temple authorities of large-scale irregularities, financial mismanagement, and alleged siphoning of donations. He has called for judicial intervention, arguing that an internal government probe is insufficient given the scale of the alleged irregularities.
Who is Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and why is his birthday significant?
Mahant Nritya Gopal Das is the chairman of the Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the body overseeing the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He turns 88 on 27 June, and a major conference of spiritual leaders along with a 10-day Ram Katha has been organised to mark the occasion, drawing chief ministers from across the country.
