Yogi Adityanath slams SP, Congress over Ram Temple row at Rampur event
Synopsis
CM Yogi Adityanath turned the Ram Temple donation controversy on its head in Rampur, accusing SP and Congress of hypocrisy — arguing that parties which once ordered firing on Ram devotees have no standing to now demand accountability from the Ram Mandir Trust. The BJP is clearly betting it can reframe a governance controversy as an attack on Hindu faith.
Key Takeaways
CM Yogi Adityanath attacked SP and Congress at a public event in Rampur on 30 June .
He accused both parties of hypocrisy, saying those who ordered firing on Ram devotees before 2017 cannot now question faith.
The controversy centres on alleged misappropriation of 'chadhava' (cash and gold offerings) at the Ram Temple, Ayodhya .
Yogi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 102 projects worth approximately ₹690 crore in Rampur at the same event.
He criticised the 'Saifai model' of SP governance and alleged extortion by the 'uncle-nephew duo' during recruitment drives.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, 30 June launched a sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress at a public event in Rampur, accusing both parties of hypocrisy over the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The Chief Minister charged that those who once ordered firing on Ram devotees have no moral standing to now speak of faith.
The Context: Donation Controversy at Ram Mandir
The political storm centres on alleged theft of 'chadhava' — cash and gold offerings — at the Ram Temple. Both SP and Congress have been targeting senior officials of the Ram Temple Kshetra Trust, the body overseeing day-to-day affairs of the Ram Mandir, and demanding accountability from the trust as well as the state administration. Yogi's remarks were a direct counter to this opposition offensive.
What CM Yogi Said
Speaking at the inauguration and foundation-stone laying of 102 development projects worth approximately ₹690 crore in Rampur, Adityanath did not hold back. He said those who ordered lathi-charges and firing on Ram devotees before 2017 are now invoking questions of faith.
'Before 2017, when Ram devotees chanted 'Ramlala hum aayenge, mandir wahin banayenge', they were fired upon. Those who chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' were hit with lathis. Today, those very people are invoking questions on faith,' he said.
'It is the power of the public that has forced them to change their stance,' he added. He further alleged that the very existence of Lord Ram and Lord Shri Krishna was once questioned by these parties, but that there is now a race to visit Ayodhya.
Attack on SP's Governance Record
Continuing his assault on the Akhilesh Yadav-led party, Yogi argued that Uttar Pradesh was gripped by an identity crisis before his government took charge in 2017. 'Daughters were unsafe, traders lived in fear, farmers were distressed, and employment opportunities for the youth were limited. As soon as government recruitment drives were announced, the 'uncle-nephew duo' would engage in extortion,' he said.
He also mocked what he called the 'Saifai model' of development under the previous SP regime, contrasting it with what he described as the state's current trajectory of rapid growth and improved governance.
Political Significance
The exchange reflects an intensifying battle over the Ram Temple narrative ahead of upcoming electoral cycles. The BJP under Yogi has long positioned the Ram Mandir as a defining achievement; the opposition's entry into the accountability debate over temple donations has opened a new front that the ruling party is clearly eager to contest on its own terms. Notably, this is the first major public event where Yogi directly addressed the chadhava controversy, signalling that the BJP intends to reframe the issue as an attack on Hindu faith rather than a governance lapse. How the Ram Temple Trust responds to demands for a formal audit will likely determine whether this row escalates further.
Point of View
Shift the terrain to identity. The chadhava controversy is a legitimate accountability issue — the Ram Temple Trust oversees a high-value public-facing institution — and the opposition's demand for an audit is not inherently anti-Hindu. By conflating temple oversight with attacks on faith, the BJP risks normalising opacity in institutions that enjoy enormous public trust. The real question mainstream coverage is sidestepping: who audits the Ram Temple Kshetra Trust, and what are the existing accountability mechanisms? Until that is answered, the political theatre on both sides obscures a structural governance gap.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ram Temple donation controversy that triggered CM Yogi's remarks?
The controversy involves alleged misappropriation of 'chadhava' — cash and gold offerings — at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. SP and Congress have demanded accountability from the Ram Temple Kshetra Trust and the state administration, prompting a sharp counter-attack from CM Yogi Adityanath.
What did CM Yogi Adityanath say at the Rampur event?
Yogi accused SP and Congress of hypocrisy, stating that those who ordered firing and lathi-charges on Ram devotees before 2017 for chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' have no standing to now speak of faith. He made these remarks while inaugurating 102 projects worth ₹690 crore in Rampur on 30 June.
Who is the Ram Temple Kshetra Trust?
The Ram Temple Kshetra Trust is the body entrusted with the day-to-day affairs and administration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. It has come under scrutiny following allegations of misappropriation of temple offerings.
What is the 'Saifai model' that Yogi criticised?
The 'Saifai model' is a reference to the SP's perceived focus on developing Saifai — the home village of the Yadav family — during its tenure in Uttar Pradesh, often cited by BJP leaders as emblematic of favouritism over broad-based development.
Why does this controversy matter politically?
The row over Ram Temple donations puts the BJP in an unusual position — defending an institution it championed — while the opposition attempts to use accountability demands to erode the party's Hindu-identity narrative. With electoral cycles approaching, control over the Ram Mandir narrative remains a high-stakes political asset.
