UP Congress Chief Ajay Rai, who was going to Ram Temple, was arrested in Ayodhya. Rai called the BJP government an ‘offering thief’ and termed it a dictatorship. Congress has condemned the action and demanded the release of the leaders.
Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [भारत]June 30 (ANI): Amid the ongoing controversy over alleged embezzlement in Ram temple donations, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai alleged that he was arrested by the police on Tuesday when he was on his way to offer prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya with a party delegation.
In a post on X (earlier Twitter), Rai called the Uttar Pradesh government an “offering thief”. Rai claimed that the police arrested him from his hotel as soon as he reached Ayodhya.
Condemning the incident, the Congress leader described it as the “culmination” of BJP’s dictatorship. Rai said, “The dictatorship of the BJP government is at its peak! A delegation of Uttar Pradesh Congress was to go to Ayodhya today, June 30, to offer prayers and seek blessings of Lord Shri Ram. As soon as I reached Ayodhya, the BJP government got so nervous that the police arrested me from my hotel and is taking me in their jeep. Why are these ‘offering thieves’ involved in the land scam and theft of donations in Ayodhya so afraid of the Ram devotees coming here? This cowardly attempt to guard the faith in the name of God is highly condemnable. We will neither stop nor bow down!”
Congress condemned the action
Meanwhile, the Congress also alleged that the party’s Pratapgarh district president Neeraj Tripathi, who was accompanying Rai to Ayodhya, has also been taken into custody by the police.
The party further said that preventing devotees from worshiping Lord Ram is “unconstitutional” and demanded the immediate release of all Congress leaders.
Uttar Pradesh Congress asked on The post further said, “Lord Shri Ram does not belong to any one political party or ideology; he is the symbol of faith and culture of the entire country. Preventing devotees from visiting Ayodhya is unconstitutional. The Uttar Pradesh government should stop its repressive policies, immediately release the detained Congress leaders, and allow them to visit Ayodhya without any hindrance for the darshan of Lord Shri Ram.”
Arrest made amid controversy of donation scam
This development has happened at a time when Ram Temple is in the news due to the alleged donation scam.
On Monday, a local court in Ayodhya sent all the accused in the alleged donations scam to 14-day judicial custody.
The court’s decision comes after a thorough investigation by the Uttar Pradesh Police into reports of financial irregularities and misuse of funds and offerings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple.
Meanwhile, family members of the accused were seen reaching the jail premises to meet their relatives. Ravi Yadav, son of accused Tinku Yadav and Shani Yadav, brother of accused Manish Yadav, reached Ayodhya District Jail, where the accused are currently lodged.
The case has sparked a major political row in Uttar Pradesh, with the ruling BJP and opposition parties blaming each other over the management of the temple’s finances, while the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigation continues. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet News editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)