‘No party worker named’: BJP and Samajwadi Party trade barbs over Ram temple

As soon as the House met Tuesday, Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey demanded an immediate discussion on the issue, seeking that it be taken up before any other business of the House.

Speaker Satish Mahana, however, rejected the demand, saying there was no urgency warranting it.

SP legislators then entered the Well of the House and repeatedly raised slogans, seeking to turn allegations concerning the temple donations into a direct attack on the BJP government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister and senior BJP leader Suresh Khanna then responded: “In the SIT report that has appeared, not a single BJP person or worker has been named as an accused. The statement was significant as it marked the BJP’s first direct attempt to separate itself from those facing allegations in the case.

Khanna also accused the Opposition of trying to create a misleading political narrative around the investigation. “These people spread confusion,” he said.

At the same time, he sought to underline that distancing the BJP from the accused did not mean the government would shield those found responsible. Referring to those accused in the SIT report, Khanna said the Yogi Adityanath government “does not believe in protecting anyone” and action would be taken against those found responsible.

Two political strategies

The BJP’s response went beyond rebutting the SP’s attempt to link it with the alleged theft. Khanna sought to turn the Ram Temple argument back on the SP by invoking its record during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

“They talk about faith today, but we saw their true face in 1990. These are the same people who ordered firing on Ram devotees. They created as many hurdles as possible in the construction of the temple. And now they speak of faith,” Khanna said. His reference was to the firing on kar sevaks in Ayodhya in 1990, when Mulayam Singh Yadav was Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

The exchange laid bare the competing political strategies of the two parties before the upcoming UP elections.

For the SP, the donation controversy has offered an opportunity to challenge the BJP not by questioning the Ram Temple itself, but by raising questions over the safety of money offered by devotees. Its use of phrases such as “Ram Dhan (Ram’s money)” and slogans such as “Chanda chor, gaddi chhor (Donation thief, leave the chair)” appeared designed to turn the BJP’s association with the temple into a question of accountability.

The BJP’s counter was two‑fold: first, to stress that the SIT has not named any BJP leader or worker, thus rejecting the Opposition’s attempt to establish a political link; and second, to question the SP’s credibility on matters of faith and the Ram Temple by recalling the events of 1990.

Speaker Mahana also joined the exchange. Pointing towards Muslim legislators participating in the protest, he remarked that it was good that they were concerned about the temple and asked whether any of the protesting legislators had made donations towards its construction.

The government also cited the pendency of a related matter before the Supreme Court while arguing that a sub judice issue could not be discussed in the House.

SP legislators, however, remained in the Well. The supplementary budget was tabled amidst the uproar and the Assembly was adjourned till 11 am Wednesday.

SP MLA suspended, Assembly adjourned

Trying to counter the Opposition amid the din, CM Yogi Adityanath accused the SP of indulging in “undemocratic conduct”, deliberately disrupting proceedings and disrespecting the House.

“The entire state is watching this undemocratic conduct of the Samajwadi Party. They deliberately want to disrespect the House and make a mockery of it. These people no longer have faith in democracy,” Adityanath said.

The chief minister said the government was prepared to discuss every issue raised by the Opposition. He maintained that the government was ready for a debate on all issues and wanted them to be taken forward meaningfully through the Chair.

However, SP legislators continued protesting.

The confrontation intensified when Mahana suspended SP MLA Sachin Yadav, 42, for the entire Monsoon session over displaying a picture of Adityanath during the protest.

The Speaker pointed to Sachin, who represents the Jasrana constituency in Firozabad district, for holding a picture of the CM and asked him to take it off. When he did not comply despite the warnings, Mahana ordered his removal from the House and later issued his suspension orders, barring him for the entire remainder of the session.

The Speaker also warned that if Sachin did not comply his membership might also be suspended over his conduct.

After coming out of the House, CM Adityanath condemned the SP legislators, calling their protest “undemocratic, unconstitutional” and an “unnecessary targeting of the Sanatan Dharma and the BJP”.

Later in the day, the SP objected to Mahana pointing out to the party’s Muslim MLAs for “supporting the cause of faith” and asking them “who all had given donations for the construction of Ram Temple”.