Prayagraj: Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Wednesday defended the SIT probe into the Ram Mandir donation theft case and accused the opposition of raising issues that, he said, have no relevance to devotees, patriots or the public.Maurya was in Prayagraj to launch the Chief Minister Cashless Medical Facility for teachers.Responding to questions on the Karnataka Congress govt’s demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and chief minister Yogi Adityanath over the donation theft case, Maurya said there was no need to respond to parties that had opposed the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple and Ram Setu.He claimed devotees of Lord Ram were satisfied with the SIT investigation, the arrests made in the case and the fact that the accused had been sent to jail.Addressing party workers, Maurya urged them to work with full vigour for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections and expressed confidence that the BJP would form the govt for a third consecutive term with a massive mandate.“The entire opposition, including the Samajwadi Party, is destined to remain out of power from 2027 to 2047 — a fact they are aware of,” he said.The deputy CM asked workers to reach out to beneficiaries of govt schemes and engage with residents in their localities. He said around 9.5 lakh jobs had been provided in the state without bribes or recommendations.Highlighting welfare initiatives under the BJP-led “double-engine” govt, Maurya encouraged workers to help eligible people avail benefits under schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. He also said the old-age pension, which stood at Rs 300 during the SP regime, had been increased to Rs 1,500 under the current dispensation.Maurya cautioned party workers against opposition strategies.“The SP, BSP and Congress may unite against the BJP. But our workers must move ahead with a single goal — regardless of who gets the ticket, the lotus must bloom,” he said.He also asked workers to engage with youth, inform them about employment-related schemes and encourage them to take advantage of such programmes. He directed party office-bearers to prepare lists of needy people who could benefit from govt welfare schemes.Recalling the situation under the previous SP govt, Maurya alleged that criminals and the mafia operated freely in Prayagraj while police remained inactive.“But the double-engine govt’s intentions are noble and if anyone dares to threaten India, they will not be spared,” he said.Maurya also noted that Indonesia had conferred its highest civilian honour on Prime Minister Modi and highlighted what he described as India’s progress across sectors. He claimed that 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty and 7 crore houses had been provided to beneficiaries, adding that Uttar Pradesh’s development was vital for the country’s overall progress.
