Lucknow: With only a few days left for the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to submit its report on the alleged Ayodhya Ram temple donation theft, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday demanded that the call detail records (CDRs) of all those employed at the temple be examined. He claimed that 99.9 per cent of them would have links with the BJP.
Yadav said such a revelation would trigger a "turmoil" within the ruling party.
Addressing the media, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also accused the BJP of placing electoral considerations above religious values.
Referring to the SIT probe into the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple, Yadav said the investigation had become a topic of discussion "in every household".
"All the call detail records (CDRs) of those working in the temple complex should be examined. The moment they are scrutinised, 99.9 per cent of them will turn out to be BJP people. You cannot imagine the 'bhagdad' (turmoil) that will break out within the BJP. The exodus has already begun, and many people have started contacting us," Yadav claimed.
He alleged that the BJP changes its ideology according to electoral convenience.
"The BJP changes its ideas for votes. For them, money is more important than religion. We have seen what has happened in Ayodhya. Those who entrusted responsibility are nowhere to be seen, while those who were given responsibility are facing questions. Where are those who assigned these responsibilities at the Ram temple?" he asked.
Yadav said devotees of Sanatan Dharma across the world were concerned about the allegations.
"The entire Sanatan community is worried. Lord Ram is revered as 'Maryada Purushottam', but the BJP has twisted and distorted those ideals for its own political interests," he alleged.
He also claimed there had been wrongdoing in the handling of donations and offerings made by devotees.
"Today, every household is discussing the SIT. There are allegations regarding donations and offerings. In Sanatan Dharma, there is no greater sin than stealing offerings made by devotees. They have committed a grave sin. Followers of Sanatan Dharma are deeply emotional about matters of faith," he said.
Responding to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's allegations against him, Yadav questioned why no FIR had been registered against members of the ruling party despite such allegations being raised.
Dubey had claimed in a social media post that Yadav had links with Ramshankar alias Tinnu Yadav, one of the accused in the alleged donation theft case.
"FIRs are being registered against the opposition, while complaints filed by the opposition are not being registered. This is not about one individual. It is being said that they (the BJP) are stepping back. They say they have made 980 calls… just think," Yadav added.
The SIT has arrested eight people in connection with the alleged embezzlement of cash offerings at the temple.
Amid mounting scrutiny, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Monday accepted the resignations of its general secretary, Champat Rai, and member Anil Mishra. The Trust appointed Krishna Mohan as the interim general secretary during a meeting held the same day.
