Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had traveled to Ayodhya with a Congress delegation on a scheduled visit to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.
Amid the controversy over the alleged misappropriation of Ram Janmabhoomi temple donations, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai on Tuesday claimed that he was arrested by the police after he arrived in Ayodhya to offer prayers at the Ram temple with a party delegation.
The Uttar Pradesh Congress also claimed that state president Ajay Rai was put under house arrest in Ayodhya, calling the move a “cowardly attempt”.
Reportedly, Rai traveled to Ayodhya with a Congress delegation on a scheduled visit to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. However, it was alleged that shortly after his arrival in the city, he was detained by the police.
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Reacting to the incident, Rai attacked the Uttar Pradesh government in a post on X (formerly Twitter), accusing it of acting out of fear amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged temple donation scam.
“The dictatorship of the BJP government is at its peak! A delegation from the Uttar Pradesh Congress was scheduled to visit Ayodhya today, June 30, to offer prayers and seek blessings of Lord Shri Ram. As soon as I reached Ayodhya, the BJP government panicked so much that the police arrested me from my hotel and took me away in their jeep. Why are the ‘sacrificial robbers’ – involved in scams and theft of land donations in Ayodhya – so afraid? From Ram fans coming here? This cowardly attempt to protect the faith by those who run shops in the name of the Lord is highly condemnable, we will not stop and we will not bow down!”
The Congress claims that another leader has been arrested
The Congress also claimed that police arrested Pratapgarh district president Neeraj Tripathi, who was accompanying Rai during his Ayodhya visit.
In another post on X, the Uttar Pradesh Congress questioned the action taken against its leaders and said preventing devotees from visiting the Ram temple is unconstitutional.
Read also | Weak preventive measures at Ram Temple; Other major UP shrines follow stricter cash control
“Has even having darshan of Lord Shri Ram become a crime in UP? Yesterday, i.e. on June 30, a program was proposed for the Congress delegation, under the leadership of State President Shri Ajay Rai (@kashikirai) ji, to visit Ayodhya and have darshan and worship of Lord Shri Ram. But the BJP government, frightened by this trip, started cowardly acts! A short while ago, Congress district president Pratapgarh, @neeraj70001ji, was placed under stay Jabriya (detained) by the police without giving any clear reason,” the post on X read.
The investigation into the donation scam continues
The latest political showdown comes at a time when the alleged embezzlement of donations at Ram Mandir remains under investigation.
A local court in Ayodhya on Monday sent all the accused in the alleged donation scam to judicial custody for 14 days. The order came as the Uttar Pradesh Police continued its intensive investigation into allegations of financial irregularities and misappropriation of funds and offerings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.
Read also | Cops are collecting evidence from SBI officials in the Ayodhya Ram temple donation case
Meanwhile, the family members of the accused reached the Ayodhya district jail to meet their relatives. Ravi Yadav, son of accused Tino Yadav, and Shani Yadav, brother of accused Manish Yadav, were seen visiting the prison where the accused are currently lodged.
The alleged donation scam has now become the center of a wider political standoff in Uttar Pradesh, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition parties exchanging allegations over the management of the temple’s finances while the Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues its investigations.
