Ram Temple stands where slavery was planned, says CM Yogi in Pratapgarh
Synopsis
Amid a live controversy over alleged financial irregularities at the Ram Mandir, CM Yogi Adityanath chose Pratapgarh to go on the offensive — branding both Congress and SP as chameleons on faith while declaring the Ayodhya temple a rebuttal to those who wanted a 'structure of slavery.' The political temperature in Uttar Pradesh is rising well ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Key Takeaways
CM Yogi Adityanath declared on Tuesday that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya stands where opponents once envisioned a 'structure of slavery.' Remarks were made in Pratapgarh amid an ongoing political row over alleged embezzlement at the Ram Mandir .
He accused Congress of historically denying the existence of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna , and the SP of ordering firing on Ram devotees.
Both parties were compared to chameleons for allegedly shifting their stance on faith for political gain.
CM Yogi also inaugurated developmental projects in Pratapgarh , including a new medical college.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday declared that where opponents once envisioned a 'structure of slavery,' there now stands the world's grandest temple of Lord Ram — a pointed remark aimed squarely at the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Indian National Congress amid a simmering political controversy over alleged financial irregularities at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The Chief Minister made the remarks during a public event in Pratapgarh, where he also unveiled a series of developmental projects, including a new medical college.
Key Developments
Addressing a public gathering, Yogi Adityanath launched a sharp attack on both the Congress and the SP, accusing them of pursuing communal and appeasement politics that he said divide society along caste and religious lines. Drawing a pointed analogy, he compared the two parties to a chameleon, suggesting even the reptile would be embarrassed by their shifting positions on matters of faith.
The Chief Minister charged that it was the Congress which had historically questioned the existence of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna, while the SP government, he alleged, had ordered firing on devotees of Lord Ram. He argued that parties with such a record have no moral standing to speak on issues of religious faith.
What the Chief Minister Said
'Congress, which once claimed that Lord Ram and Lord Krishna never existed, is now speaking about Ayodhya and faith. They supported the Babri structure and shed crocodile tears over it. Now, they are changing colours like chameleons and engaging in the politics of faith,' Yogi Adityanath said at the gathering.
He further warned that the public has seen through what he described as 'devious plans' and would not be swayed by misleading tactics, asserting that people's faith and devotion to Lord Ram would prevail over political opportunism.
The Ram Mandir Controversy Backdrop
The remarks come against the backdrop of an ongoing political war of words over an alleged embezzlement controversy linked to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Opposition parties have used the controversy to target the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh, prompting a sharp counter-offensive from the Chief Minister. This is not the first time the Ram Mandir has become a flashpoint in Uttar Pradesh politics — the site has been at the centre of electoral and cultural discourse for decades.
Pratapgarh Projects Unveiled
Beyond the political rhetoric, CM Yogi used the Pratapgarh visit to inaugurate a range of infrastructure and public welfare projects. The highlight was a new medical college, which the government positioned as part of its broader push to expand healthcare access across the state's districts. No further financial details of the projects were immediately available.
What's Next
With assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh still some time away, the intensifying exchanges over Ayodhya and the Ram Mandir suggest the issue will remain central to the state's political discourse. The opposition is unlikely to let the embezzlement controversy fade, while the BJP is expected to continue framing the debate around faith and historical legacy.
Point of View
Not an impromptu outburst — the Chief Minister is using the Ram Mandir embezzlement controversy, which would ordinarily embarrass the ruling dispensation, to pivot back to a faith-and-legacy narrative where the BJP is on stronger ground. The chameleon analogy is designed to neutralise the opposition's credibility before it can consolidate around the financial irregularities issue. What mainstream coverage underplays is the timing: launching this attack from Pratapgarh, a district with significant OBC and minority voter blocs, signals that the BJP is working to pre-empt any caste-faith coalition the opposition might attempt. The real question is whether the embezzlement controversy has enough traction to outlast the counter-narrative.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CM Yogi Adityanath say about the Ram Temple in Pratapgarh?
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that where opponents once wanted a 'structure of slavery,' the world's grandest temple of Lord Ram now stands. He made the remarks at a public event in Pratapgarh on Tuesday, amid a political controversy over alleged financial irregularities at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
What is the Ram Mandir embezzlement controversy?
An ongoing political dispute has centred on allegations of financial irregularities linked to the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Opposition parties, including the SP and Congress, have raised these allegations against the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh, prompting sharp rebuttals from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
What did CM Yogi accuse Congress and the SP of?
CM Yogi accused Congress of historically denying the existence of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna, and alleged that the SP government had ordered firing on Ram devotees. He argued that both parties lack the moral authority to speak on matters of faith.
Which projects did CM Yogi inaugurate in Pratapgarh?
CM Yogi Adityanath unveiled a series of developmental projects in Pratapgarh, with a new medical college being the headline initiative. The government described these as part of its push to expand public infrastructure across Uttar Pradesh's districts.
Why is the Ayodhya Ram Mandir politically significant in Uttar Pradesh?
The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya has been at the centre of electoral and cultural discourse in Uttar Pradesh for decades. The BJP has long positioned the temple's construction as a historic achievement, making any controversy linked to it a high-stakes political issue for all parties involved.
