UP Cong chief Ajay Rai arrested in Ayodhya, calls BJP 'offering thieves'

UP Congress chief Ajay Rai was arrested in Ayodhya while on his way to the Ram Mandir. He called the BJP government 'offering thieves,' linking his detention to the ongoing controversy over the alleged embezzlement of temple donations.

Amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged embezzlement of Ram Mandir donations, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai alleged that he was arrested by the police on Tuesday while heading to offer prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya with a party delegation.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rai termed the Uttar Pradesh government "chadhava chor" (offering thieves). Rai claimed that the police arrested him at his hotel as soon as he arrived in Ayodhya. Condemning the incident, the Congress leader called it the "peak" of the BJP's dictatorship. "The dictatorship of the BJP government is at its peak! A delegation from the Uttar Pradesh Congress was scheduled to visit Ayodhya today, June 30th, to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Lord Shri Ram. As soon as I arrived in Ayodhya, the BJP government panicked so much that the police arrested me from my hotel and are taking me away in their jeep. Why are these 'offering thieves'--who are involved in land scams and the theft of donations in Ayodhya--so afraid of Ram devotees coming here? This cowardly attempt to guard faith by those who run shops in the name of the Lord is highly condemnable. We will neither stop nor bow down!" Rai said.

'Stopping devotees unconstitutional': Congress

Meanwhile, the Congress further alleged that the party's Pratapgarh district president, Neeraj Tripathi, who was accompanying Rai to Ayodhya, was also detained by the police. The party added that stopping devotees from worshipping Lord Ram is "unconstitutional" and demanded the immediate release of all Congress leaders. "Has it now become a crime in UP to even have darshan of Lord Shri Ram? A program was proposed for the Congress delegation today, June 30, under the leadership of State President Shri Ajay Rai, to visit Ayodhya to offer prayers and have darshan of Lord Shri Ram. But the BJP government, scared of this journey, has resorted to cowardly actions! A short while ago, the Congress District President of Pratapgarh, Neeraj Tripathi, was placed under house arrest and detained by the police without any clear reason being stated," the Uttar Pradesh Congress stated on X.

"Lord Shri Ram does not belong to any single political party or ideology; He is a symbol of the faith and culture of the entire country. Stopping devotees from going to Ayodhya is unconstitutional. The Uttar Pradesh government must stop its repressive policies, immediately release the Congress leaders who have been placed under house arrest, and allow them to go to Ayodhya without any hindrance to have darshan of Lord Shri Ram," the post added.

Ram Mandir Donation Scam Probe

The development comes at a time when the Ram Mandir has been making headlines due to the alleged embezzlement of temple donations. On Monday, a local court in Ayodhya remanded all the accused in the alleged donation scam to 14 days of judicial custody. The court's decision follows a high-intensity investigation by the Uttar Pradesh Police into reports of financial irregularities and the misappropriation of funds and offerings at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

Meanwhile, family members of the accused were seen arriving at the prison premises to meet their kin. Ravi Yadav, son of the accused Tinnu Yadav, and Shani Yadav, brother of the accused Manish Yadav, reached the Ayodhya District Jail, where the accused are currently lodged.

The case has triggered a massive political slugfest in Uttar Pradesh, with the ruling BJP and Opposition parties trading allegations over the handling of the temple's finances, even as the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe continues. (ANI)

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