Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday accused the Samajwadi Party and the Congress of adopting double standards over the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case, questioning why they had remained silent on issues related to Waqf properties while criticising the incident in Ayodhya.
Addressing a public gathering in Pratapgarh, Adityanath said the opposition was using an isolated incident to target the Hindu faith and diminish Ayodhya's growing prominence.
"Today, Ayodhya is drawing visitors from across the country. The opposition is uncomfortable because so many people are coming to Ayodhya," the Chief Minister said.
Taking a swipe at the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, Adityanath remarked that even a chameleon would be embarrassed by their frequent political shifts.
"These parties are magnifying one incident to insult Hindus and attack their faith," he said.
Referring to criticism surrounding the alleged Ram Temple donation theft, the Chief Minister questioned why the opposition had never expressed similar concern over land transactions involving Waqf properties.
"I want to ask the Samajwadi Party and the Congress: while you are using the Ayodhya incident to question Hindu faith, have you ever spoken about the thousands of hectares of land allegedly sold in the name of Waqf?" he asked.
Adityanath alleged that land meant for the poor and weaker sections had instead been encroached upon and sold for the benefit of a few individuals.
"That land belonged to the poor and underprivileged. It could have been allotted to them. Instead, it was occupied and sold in the name of Waqf, benefiting a select few. Yet the Congress and the Samajwadi Party never raised their voices," he claimed.
Defending the government's handling of the alleged donation theft case, Adityanath said action was initiated immediately after the matter came to light.
"The Ram Janmabhoomi Trust itself requested an SIT investigation. I had said the truth would emerge. Based on the SIT probe, an FIR was registered and action was taken against those against whom evidence was found," he said.
He further questioned the opposition's silence on alleged irregularities involving Waqf properties.
"But when it comes to Waqf, why do the Samajwadi Party and the Congress suddenly become silent? Why do they refuse to speak about alleged wrongdoing in the name of Waqf?" he asked.
The Chief Minister also accused the opposition of reviving divisive issues ahead of elections.
"As elections approach, they suddenly raise such matters. Today, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party are left with only two agendas—creating divisions in the name of caste and questioning people's faith," he said.
Escalating his criticism, Adityanath referred to the opposition's past stance on Ayodhya and the Ram temple movement.
"The Congress once questioned the existence of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. In Ayodhya, both the Congress and the Samajwadi Party supported the Babri structure and later shed crocodile tears over it. Now they have changed their stand and claim that faith is being undermined," he said.
Questioning the opposition's right to speak on Ayodhya, he added, "Since when has Ayodhya become an issue of faith for you? Ram devotees have every right to say their faith is connected to Ayodhya, but the Congress has no such right."
"The party that denied the existence of Lord Ram, and the Samajwadi Party, which fired bullets at Ram devotees, cannot now claim to speak on matters of faith," he alleged.
The Chief Minister also accused previous governments of diverting funds meant for Hindu religious sites.
"How was money allocated for the development of Hindu religious places used to construct boundary walls around graveyards? Did faith not matter then?" he asked.
He further criticised earlier administrations over illegal slaughterhouses and alleged cow smuggling.
"When illegal slaughterhouses were operating and cows were allegedly handed over to smugglers for slaughter, was Hindu faith not being hurt then?" he said.
Highlighting his government's development initiatives, Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh had undergone significant changes since 2017, contrasting the present administration with previous governments.
"They gave 'One District, One Mafia'. We gave 'One District, One Medical College'," he said.
He noted that Pratapgarh, which previously had no medical college, now has one and is also set to receive a nursing college. He also cited the Ganga Expressway as an example of improved infrastructure that would accelerate development in the region.
The Chief Minister added that government welfare schemes had been implemented without discrimination and highlighted recruitment drives in the police force and other government departments, claiming that many young people from Pratapgarh had benefited from these employment opportunities.
