Lucknow, July 13 (IANS). Samajwadi Party MLA Ravidas Mehrotra targeted the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments after the Supreme Court hearing in the case of alleged theft in Ram temple offerings. He claimed that the seriousness of the matter is evident from the court summoning replies from the government and the Ram Mandir Trust and asking for the investigation report of the SIT. Also, he expressed his frank opinion on many issues including the appointment process of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in Ram Temple, increasing the judicial custody of the accused.
On the hearing of the Supreme Court in the case of alleged theft in Ram Temple offerings, Ravidas Mehrotra said that the Supreme Court has sought response from the government and the Ram Mandir Trust on the petition demanding a CBI investigation into the theft of donations. Along with this, the investigation report of SIT has also been summoned. He expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will accept the demand for a CBI investigation and the alleged big culprits in the case will be exposed and the allegedly stolen property will also be recovered.
The SP MLA also raised questions when applications were invited for the appointment of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in Ram Temple. He said that when the investigation into the alleged theft in the temple is ongoing and the matter is pending in the Supreme Court, the process of any new appointment should not go ahead. Appointments being made before the final decision of the court may raise the possibility of evidence being tampered with.
On extension of judicial custody of the accused in the Ram Mandir embezzlement case, he said that the remand of the accused is being extended, but no concrete action is visible to investigate their properties or recover the alleged embezzlement amount. Referring to the ‘zero tolerance’ policy of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he alleged that till now no action has been taken against the accused as has been seen in other cases.
On the arrest of suspended personal assistant of Badri-Kedar Temple Committee, Pramod Nautiyal, in the case of alleged theft of offerings at Badrinath Dham, Mehrotra said that this incident also raises serious questions about the safety of offerings in temples. Incidents of embezzlement of cash, gold and silver coins and jewelery are coming to light in various temples. An independent commission should be constituted under the chairmanship of a retired or working judge, which should monitor the system of offerings and donations in major temples of the country and suggest measures to stop such incidents. Referring to major temples like Badrinath, Kashi Vishwanath, Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi, Mahakal and Kedarnath, he alleged that there should be an impartial inquiry into the functioning of these trusts.
Responding to the allegations leveled against Samajwadi Party by Congress leader Imran Masood, Ravidas Mehrotra said that Congress had got only two seats in the 2022 assembly elections, out of which Samajwadi Party had supported the Congress candidate on one seat. Congress MPs have also won in Uttar Pradesh with the support of SP. Samajwadi Party is the biggest opposition force in the state and it is also the real alternative to BJP. In the upcoming elections, Samajwadi Party is in a position to form the government on its own and Akhilesh Yadav will become the Chief Minister.
Taking aim at Congress, Ravidas Mehrotra said that if Congress is a banyan tree then no other plant can grow under it, whereas Samajwadi Party is like a mango tree, which gives shade as well as fruits. SP is a party that takes all sections along, whereas Congress has been hindering the development of its allies.
–IANS
PSK/DKP
