"Those who stole are in jail": Iqbal Ansari backs govt action in Ram Temple donation embezzlement row
Ayodhya, July 13
Former Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi litigant Iqbal Ansari praised the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government for taking swift legal action in the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case, saying those accused in the matter have been arrested and that devotees' faith in the temple remains unaffected.
Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Ansari hailed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he described as prompt action in the case, stating that the alleged accused are now in jail and attributing it to the government's intervention.
"Ayodhya is a city of religion; Ayodhya is the city of Lord Ram. Ayodhya respects all religions. In Ayodhya, deities of all religions reside. The issue is about the Ram Mandir. Regarding the incidents that occurred at the Ram Mandir, the government took legal action, and today, those who stole are in jail. This was the government's support, the government's initiative, and the government acted very quickly. This matter was connected to the temple because it was a question of faith. People of all religions respect Lord Ram, and whatever happened at the Lord's place, everyone is in jail today. This is the contribution of our honourable Chief Minister and the Prime Minister, that the thieves are in jail," he said.
Further, he emphasised that nothing has changed in terms of the arrival of devotees and worshipping Lord Ram at the temple, highlighting that the faith has remained intact regardless of the incident.
"It is a question of faith, and faith remains. Ayodhya's Ganga-Jamuni dialect and the abode of deities in Ayodhya are perfectly safe; people are coming, having 'darshan', and performing worship, and everything is going well. Some people are trying to defame Ayodhya, but those who have done this- the people who stole are in jail; this was our government's initiative," he said.
The alleged embezzlement has triggered a heated political row across the country, with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) continuing its probe into the irregularities.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on July 13 (Monday) a batch of pleas seeking an independent, court-monitored probe into the alleged misappropriation of donations in the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I understand the sentiment, but isn't it a bit premature to praise the government so openly? The SIT is still investigating, and we should wait for the full facts to come out. However, I do agree that any theft from a place of worship is unacceptable, regardless of religion. Let's hope justice is truly served.
Really heartening to hear Iqbal Ansari ji's confidence in the system. Ayodhya has always been a symbol of unity and Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb. The accused being behind bars shows that no one is above the law in our country. Jai Shri Ram! 🚩
My only concern is that while the thieves are caught, what about the larger issue of transparency in temple management? Devotees donate with pure faith, and we need a proper system to prevent such incidents in the future. Otherwise, it will happen again. But yes, credit where it's due—quick action by authorities.
This is what good governance looks like! 👏 The way CM Yogi and PM Modi handled this is commendable. No politics, just action. And Iqbal Ansari ji's statement shows that even people from different backgrounds appreciate this. Sabka saath, sabka vikas!
I'm curious about the exact details of the embezzlement—how much money was involved? It's great that arrests were made, but the Supreme Court's involvement is also important for an impartial investigation. Faith is important, but so is transparency in managing public donations. Let's see what the court decides.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.