Controversy Erupts After BJP MLA's 'Cancer' Remark On Ayodhya Theft Accused
BJP MLA's cancer remark triggers political controversy.
A political controversy has erupted after BJP MLA Anil Singh claimed that those accused of embezzling donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya would suffer from cancer as a form of "divine punishment." The remarks, made during a BJP programme in Maurawan in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district on Sunday, surfaced in a viral video and have drawn sharp attention amid an ongoing investigation into the alleged misappropriation of temple donations.
In the video, Singh, who represents the Purwa Assembly constituency, is heard saying that individuals accused of stealing money donated to Lord Ram's temple would "directly get cancer" and face a painful death. He further claimed that while the government would take legal action against those found guilty, Lord Ram would ensure they were punished in a manner that future generations would remember. "The government will take legal action, but Lord Ram will punish them in such a way that they will die a painful death. Even their next seven generations will remember the consequences of stealing from the temple," Singh said during the event.
His remarks come as authorities continue to investigate allegations of financial irregularities linked to donations made at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. On June 13, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) after the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust requested a formal probe into the matter. Following the SIT's findings, eight individuals—Avinash Shukla, Anukalp Mishra, Lav Kush Mishra, Manish Kumar Yadav, Karunesh Pandey, Ram Shankar Mishra, Subhash Srivastava and Ramashankar alias Tinnu Yadav—were arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement.
Also Read: Ajay Rai Alleges Arrest in Ayodhya Ahead of Ram Temple Visit Amid Donation Controversy
The investigation has also become a political flashpoint, with opposition parties questioning the scope of the arrests. Critics have alleged that the action has so far been limited to lower-level operatives, while those allegedly responsible for orchestrating the fraud have not been brought to justice. Authorities, however, have not publicly commented on whether further arrests or investigations into additional suspects are underway.
During the same programme, Singh also launched a political attack on the Samajwadi Party, accusing its leaders of grabbing land, diverting food rations meant for poor beneficiaries and denying welfare benefits to eligible people. He further alleged that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was facing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and had now been "forced to invoke the name of Lord Ram." The Samajwadi Party has not immediately responded to Singh's latest remarks. The controversy comes at a time when the alleged donation scam and the Ram Temple continue to feature prominently in Uttar Pradesh's political discourse, with both the ruling BJP and the opposition trading allegations over accountability and governance.
Also Read: Investigators Turn Attention To Ayodhya SBI Branch In Ram Temple Donation Case
