Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP and the party's Uttar Pradesh in-charge Sanjay Singh will appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on June 25. On Wednesday he said the team probing the alleged donation and land cases linked to Ayodhya's Ram Mandir had summoned him, and that he would carry several important documents along.
According to Singh, SIT head and Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant has called him at 11 am on Thursday in connection with the inquiry. He said he had himself sought time from the SIT, which has now been granted.
Singh Says He Holds Solid Paperwork
The AAP leader claimed that he possesses several documents tied to the very allegations the SIT is examining, and that he will hand them over to the panel. "I will appear before the SIT tomorrow and submit papers relating to the alleged theft of offerings, the alleged misuse of donations and the alleged land scam," he said.
Akhilesh Yadav Questions the Probe Team's Intent
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav branded the entire affair a 'grave sin' and said it had made a mockery of people's faith. At a press conference on Wednesday he went so far as to question the very impartiality of the SIT set up to investigate the theft.
Taking a dig, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said, "Does SIT mean 'a share in the theft' or does it mean 'a breach of trust'? This is a grave sin and faith has been toyed with." He alleged that donations and offerings received from within the country and abroad had been misused. "This has put a question mark on our Sanatani traditions and culture. It is an extremely sensitive matter and must be dealt with utmost seriousness," Akhilesh added.
VHP Pushes Hard for an FIR
Breaking its silence on the row over alleged irregularities in the funds collected for the Ram Mandir, the top leadership of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad also made its stand clear. The organisation has strongly advocated registering an FIR immediately and launching a legal investigation into the entire matter.
Saints Angry Over Kejriwal's Ayodhya Visit
Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal's visit to Ayodhya stirred resentment within the saint community. Hanumangarhi Mahant Raju Das sharply remarked that some 'Kalnemi' were arriving in Ayodhya. Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya bluntly stated that any tampering with faith would not be tolerated.
The saints advised against playing politics over the Ram Mandir issue and said all the facts would surface on their own during the SIT probe. Hitting back at those raising questions over the Ram Mandir Trust, Mahant Shashikant Das said people should refrain from levelling allegations until the facts come out. The saints also warned of a protest against Kejriwal in Ayodhya and alleged that only political rhetoric was being whipped up over the Ram Mandir matter.
