Prayagraj: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday accused the Congress and Samajwadi Party of “attacking” Sanatan with their statements on the Ram temple donation theft row and asked why their mouths were “glued shut” when it came to waqf issues.Addressing a public gathering in Pratapgarh after inaugurating and laying foundation stones for 111 development projects worth over ₹384 crore in the Pratapgarh and Vishwanath Ganj assembly constituencies, Yogi questioned the opposition’s stance on waqf-related matters.“Why those who attack Hindu faith suddenly go silent— as if their mouths were sealed with Fevicol — when it comes to the issue of waqf. Why the anti-NDA bloc remained muted when hectares of land across the nation were sold off in the name of the waqf,” he said.He added that “In reality, the grievance of the SP and Congress is that a temple dedicated to Lord Ram now stands where they had wished to see the ‘Babri structure’— a symbol of subjugation. Even a chameleon would be put to shame by SP and Congress members, as this species changes colours even faster than the reptile does.”Yogi said the public has witnessed the ‘quagmire’ created by parties like the SP and Congress.“Those who once created an identity crisis for the youth and citizens are now hatching conspiracies again as elections approach. The opposition is displeased with UP’s progress, its freedom from civil unrest, the vibrant atmosphere, the respect shown to heritage, the restoration work at the shrines of Maa Belha Devi, Maa Chandrika Devi and Karpatri Ji Maharaj, and the provision of employment to the youths for if the youth are gainfully employed, the politics of casteism will come to an end. The opposition once again seeks to tear apart the social fabric by dividing society along caste lines,” he alleged.Yogi said the SP and Congress have run out of new issues. They are left with only two agendas– division in the name of caste and attacks on faith. For some time now, these people have been mischievously attacking country’s ‘Sanatan’ faith.“The Congress and the SP once supported the Babri structure in Ayodhya. Now, they have changed their colours like chameleons. They now claim that faith is being trifled with in Ayodhya. Since when did they develop any faith in Ayodhya? It was the ancestors of ‘Ram-bhakts’ who fought the battle for Ayodhya and they have the right to speak on the matter, but the Congress and the SP have no such right,” he said.Yogi further alleged that the Congress had questioned the existence of Lord Ram, while the SP had ordered lathi-charges and firing on Ram devotees in the past.The SP used to spend funds meant for the rejuvenation of religious sites linked to Hindu heritage on constructing boundary walls for graveyards. The country will no longer fall prey to their machinations, he said.“Today’s Ayodhya, shaped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, evokes the era of Lord Ram. Only the BJP could have delivered facilities like four-lane highways, rail connectivity, and the international airport at Ayodhya. Amenities such as the Nishadraj Night Shelter and the Maa Shabari Community Kitchen have been constructed, and ‘Ram Ki Paidi’ has been transformed into a site of magnificent beauty. Despite the opposition’s malicious propaganda, devotees are flocking to Ayodhya in large numbers,” he said.CM stated that the SP and Congress are making light of Hindu faith over an alleged theft in Ayodhya, yet thousands of hectares of land belonging to the poor and marginalised were sold off in the name of ‘waqf’ across the country and the state.“That land could have been allotted to the poor on lease, or used to build convention centres, shops and commercial establishments. A select few engaged in fraud by facilitating illegal occupation and subsequent sale of waqf lands, yet the Congress and the SP did not utter a single word about it. Why have the Congress and SP gone silent on the Waqf issue?” asked the CM.CM said the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had requested state govt to constitute an SIT.“I assured that the SIT would uncover the absolute truth. Acting on the preliminary report, the Trust lodged an FIR, and action was taken,” he said.
