A day after Yadav’s promise to develop Ayodhya into a religious city, “Siyaram Dham”, if SP comes to power, the CM said: “Akhileshji, Lord Ram’s devotees have already transformed Ayodhya. Don’t worry about it. Repent. Visit Ram Lalla once, and at least that will bring you some wisdom. Now, prepare so that we can also do something for Lord Krishna.”
Addressing a public gathering in UP’s Hathras, the CM said: “You say your government will make Ayodhya a religious city. What religious city will you make? Look at your own history. It was your party’s government that fired on Ram devotees.”
Yadav, who was in Prayagraj on Sunday, blamed the ruling BJP for using religion as a cover. “Samajwadi people want Sanatan Dharma to be protected, but an entire business is being run under the guise of Sanatan Dharma,” he said at a press conference in the city, adding that in “BJP’s dictionary, neither religion nor shame remains. Their priority is not religion, but money. For them, it is not ‘Nation First’ but ‘Donation First'”.
Yadav said, “Who could have imagined such a huge betrayal of faith? CCTV footage shows how many times the cameras were switched off. What more needs to be said?”
He also responded to the CM’s jibe: “After the construction of Shiv temple at Etawah, I will go to Ayodhya to offer prayers to Lord Ram. But the issue is not about my visit.”
Vishva Hindu Parishad‘s international president Alok Kumar dismissed Yadav’s poll promise as an attempt to seek votes in the name of Lord Ram.Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray accused BJP of “commercialising” the Ram temple in Ayodhya and “betraying” the ideology of Hindutva. CPI(M) veteran Pinarayi Vijayan sought a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the case.
Even as politicians traded barbs, Ayodhya police conducted simultaneous raids at the residences of all eight people arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement of donations at Ram temple, police sources said.
– With inputs from agencies
