VHP international president Alok Kumar said on Sunday that the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s record in Ayodhya did not inspire confidence. He accused Yadav of using the temple row for electoral politics and said the Samajwadi Party could not credibly present itself as a guardian of Ayodhya’s religious identity after its past opposition to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
The remarks came after Yadav promised that a future Samajwadi Party government would develop Ayodhya as “Siyaram Dham”, presenting the city as a model centre of faith and public infrastructure. The pledge followed opposition attacks over alleged diversion of offerings and valuables linked to the Ram temple, an issue that has moved from local policing into a larger political dispute ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.
The VHP also demanded police action against Congress leaders over allegations that valuables worth thousands of crores of rupees had gone missing from the temple. Kumar said such claims could create public unrest and disturb the atmosphere in the country. He argued that those making accusations should either produce evidence before investigators or face legal scrutiny for spreading claims that damage public faith.
The controversy has gained force after police arrested eight people in connection with alleged misappropriation of donations collected at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Investigators have recovered ₹79.85 lakh in cash and are examining whether lapses in counting, recording, depositing and monitoring offerings enabled funds or valuables to be siphoned off. Searches were carried out at the homes of the accused, and the role of personnel linked to counting operations and banking channels is under scrutiny.
The case has placed the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust under pressure. Champat Rai, the trust’s general secretary and a senior VHP figure, and trustee Anil Mishra have stepped down amid the row. The trust has maintained that donations are safe and that it is committed to a fair investigation. The VHP has said there was no pressure on Rai to resign and that any allegations against individuals should be tested through due process.
Opposition parties have framed the matter as a question of accountability in one of the country’s most high-profile religious projects. The Congress has sought a Supreme Court-monitored investigation, dissolution of the current trust and intervention at the highest level of government. Samajwadi Party leaders have accused the ruling establishment of failing to protect public donations made in faith, while the Aam Aadmi Party and Shiv Sena figures have also raised questions about transparency.
Yadav has attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party over the issue, accusing it of playing with people’s faith and using religion for political benefit. He has questioned repeated official visits to Ayodhya and demanded answers on how offerings were managed. His “Siyaram Dham” pledge seeks to shift the contest from symbolic temple politics to the management, development and moral ownership of Ayodhya.
The BJP has pushed back strongly, portraying the opposition criticism as an attempt to exploit a police investigation for political gain. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has warned opposition leaders not to test the patience of Ram devotees and has defended the broader transformation of Ayodhya under his government. The city has seen major infrastructure projects, road upgrades, hospitality investment and expanded pilgrimage facilities since the temple consecration in January 2024.
Ayodhya has become central to Uttar Pradesh politics because it combines faith, infrastructure, tourism and electoral mobilisation. The temple has attracted large numbers of pilgrims, while the state government has promoted the city as a spiritual and cultural hub. The donation row now threatens to complicate that narrative by putting the management of temple offerings under public and legal examination.
