Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Thursday (June 18, 2026) waded into the Ram Mandir donations controversy and hit out at Samajwadi Party chief Akhliesh Yadav asking “why isn’t the SP talking about donations received to build Babri Masjid.”

“I want to ask the Opposition, especially the SP chief, funds were collected to build the Babri Masjid, where has the money gone,” he asked while speaking to presspersons. “He will never raise questions on that issue. He will only question the Sanatan culture and do politics of appeasement and vote bank. He thinks this will secure his vote bank,” said Mr. Pathak.

The senior Minister said that the people of the State know “very well” that “these (SP) are people who fan riots and open fire on devotees of Ram”. “The people of Uttar Pradesh will never forgive them,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister assured that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the allegations of fund embezzlement will be followed by action. “The SIT probe is going on and a committee has been formed. We will take action based on the SIT findings,” he said.

On June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government formed a three-member SIT to probe accusations surrounding the alleged disappearance of donations made at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Mr. Yadav has alleged crores of rupees donated by devotees at the Ram Temple had gone missing.