Lucknow, June 20: Ajay Rai, the President of the Uttar Pradesh Congress, raised concerns regarding the investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the alleged misappropriation of donations for the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He questioned the validity of the investigation, stating that without a First Information Report (FIR), there is no basis for any inquiry.
In an interview, Rai criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming they have a history of misusing donations in the name of Lord Ram and are now involved in land misappropriation in Ayodhya. He emphasized that the Congress party engages in genuine donations, unlike the BJP, which he accused of merely stealing funds.
Rai pointed out that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the temple after their departure, claiming to advocate for action and investigation. However, he questioned how the SIT could proceed without an FIR, suggesting that the investigation is merely a façade intended to confuse and mislead the public. He noted that Vijay Vishwas Pant, an officer involved in the SIT, was previously the commissioner in Prayagraj during a stampede incident. Rai questioned whether any action had been taken against Pant, implying that the SIT was established to exonerate certain individuals rather than conduct a thorough investigation.
Regarding the NEET re-examination, Rai expressed his disbelief at the government’s handling of the situation, citing instances where students from Bhubaneswar and Nagpur were sent to Dehradun and Abu Dhabi, respectively, for exams. He criticized the government’s system, claiming it jeopardizes students’ futures and deceives the youth of the nation.
During a press conference in Lucknow, Rai also addressed the broader issues within the education system and the corruption of the BJP government. He highlighted the alarming trend of paper leaks in NEET and other competitive exams from 2018 to 2026, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for failing to take moral responsibility. He noted that the recent NEET paper leak has led to the tragic loss of 12 promising students due to mental stress.
Rai revealed that parents spend approximately ₹3.5 lakh crore on preparing for five major competitive exams, equivalent to the total budget of five key ministries. Despite this investment, he lamented that the current education system has become a “rejection system,” yielding jobs for only 12 out of every 1,000 students. To address the plight of students and parents, Rahul Gandhi has launched the “Voice of Students” campaign, advocating for their concerns from Parliament to the streets.
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