Lucknow: The BJP has not only betrayed Lord Ram but also the Constitution of India, said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday attacking the UP and Central govts over donation fraud at Ram temple in Ayodhya on one hand and poaching of opposition MPs on another.“Lord Ram is the very embodiment of ‘maryada’ (propriety) and so is the Constitution. The BJP is betraying both,” Akhilesh said while addressing a news conference on Wednesday.The SP chief said in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls people voted against BJP’s call for fetching them 400 plus seats to change the Constitution of India.“Now the BJP wants to poach opposition MPs to change the Constitution,” Akhilesh said.Akhilesh’s charge was being seen in the light of recent developments where sitting MPs of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Uddhav Thackeray led Shiv Sena (UBT) group split from their parent party to side with the BJP.It is widely believed that the BJP was orchestrating these splits to secure the numbers to get the Delimitation Bill to sail through both the Houses of Parliament during the Monsoon session.Recently UP minister Om Prakash Rajbhar caused unrest in the opposition camp when he announced that a chunk of sitting SP MPs will abandon their party to side with the BJP.Taking on the BJP over embezzlement of donations at Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Akhilesh said: “For the BJP ‘dhan’ is ‘dharm’ (money is religion). There is little hope that the truth will be unveiled.”He insisted that the minimum that a common Ram devotee expects was to see that the cash, precious metals and gems and jewellery that was donated and offered at Ram Temple, is accounted for.Responding to a media query, Akhilesh said allegations being levelled by functionaries from the BJP and its allies were a part of BJP’s strategy to reduce the bargaining power of such netas to zero ahead of the 2027 UP Assembly polls.“These netas are made to read out what some clever minds in BJP write for them,” Akhilesh said suggesting that by attacking the SP the BJP allies have spoilt their terms with the latter and were left with no option but to stay put with the BJP irrespective of the number of seats they are offered as alliance partners.‘Will visit Ram Temple once Kedareshwar Dham is completed’Lucknow: Akhilesh Yadav said he will visit the Ram Temple once the construction of Kedareshwar Dham Temple in Saifai was completed. Construction of Kedareshwar Dham Temple was initiated by Akhilesh and members of his family in Saifai for which he collected donations as well.Membership App launched, donation sought for pollsLucknow: Akhilesh launched an app which can be accessed by people to seek SP’s membership. The App was also aimed at seeking donations from the people to fund elections. The party has sought donation of an amount starting from Rs 20 onwards.
