LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday accused opposition parties of “faking faith” and alleged that the Samajwadi Party had once allowed namaz at the Hanumangarhi Temple, as he sought to deflect criticism over the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case. The chief minister raised the issue for the second time since his visit to Ayodhya on July 10, according to news agency PTI.“Those who used to facilitate namaz at Hanumangarhi are now commenting on Ayodhya and matters of faith. Questions are being raised today by such people concerning a sacred site like Hanumangarhi,” Adityanath said at an event organised by Republic Bharat news channel in Lucknow. The remarks refer to an alleged plan in 2003 to hold namaz on the steps of the Hanumangarhi Temple in Ayodhya. BJP leader Brijlal, who was Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) in 2003 and later became Uttar Pradesh DGP, said such a proposal had indeed existed. “Yes, it is correct. Back in the day, aided by the then IG zone, there was indeed a plan to hold namaz on the steps of Hanumangarhi temple,” said Brijlal according to news agency PTI. However, he said the plan was altered following the intervention of the then Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Faizabad. According to him, the namaz and iftaar were eventually held at the residence of Hanumangarhi Mahant Gyan Das, located adjacent to the temple. Former IG (Zone) V N Rai, under whose jurisdiction Faizabad (now Ayodhya) fell at the time, disputed Brijlal’s account.“I just want to know if I was behind it all and if namaz wasn’t held still due to the then SSP’s intervention, it means the then SSP disobeyed orders of his superior. Is it possible?” Rai asked, dismissing Brijlal’s claim. Amid the differing accounts, Adityanath used the episode to target the Samajwadi Party.“Those who are faking faith committed this sin (namaz on Hanumangarhi temple steps), whereas the BJP established Ayodhya as the cultural capital of Sanatan Dharma,” he said.“Talking about faith and theft in Ram Temple Ayodhya are those who had committed dacoity on the rights of the poor,” he added. Referring to the alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple, the chief minister described the incident as unfortunate but defended the government’s response.“Whatever happened was unfortunate. An SIT is investigating the matter. Based on its recommendations and requests made by the trust, action is being taken. A probe is underway; the trust has initiated measures. Resignations have been tendered on moral grounds. Yet questions are being raised,” he said. The remarks come amid ongoing scrutiny of the alleged donation theft case. On Monday, the Supreme Court directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government to submit a report on the matter. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohan also issued notice to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on petitions seeking a time-bound investigation into the alleged theft. One of the petitioners, Narendra Kumar Goswami, has sought a CBI probe into the case. He has also requested a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit of the finances of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which manages the affairs of the Ram Temple.
