UP Chief Minister Defends Temple Trust Amid Donation Theft Probe

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that the SIT probing the alleged theft of donations to the Ram temple has found evidence against only eight out of about 150 people involved in the counting of offerings, and the entire temple trust cannot be defamed for the mistakes of a few people. He hit out at the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, accusing them of trying to defame Ayodhya and insult the legacy of Lord Ram over the case. Defending the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the chief minister said the state government had ordered a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on the recommendation of the trust itself. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating projects worth over Rs 950 crore in Chitrakoot, CM Yogi said that the opposition parties suddenly became active after the case came to light because they had found "an issue" to target Ayodhya. He told the gathering in Chitrakoot, "You must have heard the recent news. Congress and Samajwadi Party have suddenly become active."