Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday broke his silence on the alleged misappropriation of offerings at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, urging devotees to exercise patience and let the Special Investigation Team (SIT) complete its inquiry. Addressing a public gathering in the temple town, the Chief Minister said those responsible would "not be spared, whoever they might be".

The SIT, a three-member team headed by senior IAS officer Vijay Vishwas Pant, was constituted on June 13 at the request of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. It has been examining records and questioning individuals linked to the temple's financial management. On Thursday, trust member Dr Anil Mishra was quizzed over the counting of donated money and appointment of staff involved in the process. The probe was triggered after Samajwadi Party leader Pawan Pandey alleged on June 7 that between Rs 5 crore and Rs 7.5 crore had been stolen from the temple's donation collection.

"Trust ke anurodh par SIT jaanch karayi gayi hai. SIT jaanch doodh ka doodh, pani ka pani karegi," Yogi said, asserting that the investigation would separate fact from fiction. He appealed to anyone possessing documentary evidence to submit it directly to the investigating team rather than making public statements that could influence the probe.

Launching a sharp political attack, the Chief Minister trained his guns on the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, accusing them of "double standards" on the Ram Temple issue. He said the Congress had argued before the Supreme Court that Lord Ram did not exist and used all its strength to prevent the temple's construction. "The same Congress is now expressing concern over Ayodhya and claiming that Ram devotees have been insulted," he said.

Taking aim at the Samajwadi Party, Yogi said those who once ordered firing on kar sevaks and lathi-charged devotees chanting "Jai Shri Ram" were now giving lectures about the sentiments of Ram bhakts. "They are the same people who fired bullets at Ram devotees," he said, questioning their present concern for the temple and its followers.

The Chief Minister made a fervent appeal to the devotees, reminding them of the 500-year struggle that led to the construction of the grand temple. "Lord Ram taught us the path of dignity and restraint. We struggled in a disciplined manner for 500 years to reclaim Ram Janmabhoomi. Wait another 15 days, be patient and do not worry," he said.

He cautioned people against being influenced by what he described as attempts to defame Ayodhya and the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. Yogi also urged restraint on public statements until the SIT completes its inquiry, saying such comments could hamper the investigation.

The controversy has snowballed into a major political row, with opposition parties raising questions about financial transparency in the management of temple offerings. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav had earlier said Ayodhya would become a "Kurukshetra" for those found responsible for any wrongdoing.

The SIT, which also includes Inspector General of Police Kiran S and Finance Department Special Secretary Neel Ratan, is expected to submit a primary report within a week. Officials indicated the investigation would focus on tracing the money trail and verifying the recovery made so far. Further details are awaited as the probe continues.