Akhilesh Yadav slams 'bulldozer action' in Ayodhya, promises compensation if Samajwadi Party returns to power

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday slammed the recent demolition drive in Ayodhya, alleging that poor families are being uprooted and deprived of their homes and livelihood, and promised to compensate them if his party returns to power in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing a press conference at the SP headquarters here, Yadav said his party never obstructed development of Ayodhya and that, if given an opportunity, it would make the temple town a "world-class city".

"I have said this before and I say it again, we can never become an obstacle in the development of Ayodhya and the development of the city of Lord Ram. When the opportunity comes to the Samajwadis, we will make Ayodhya a world-class city," he said.


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The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister recalled that BJP leaders had spoken of developing Ayodhya better than other religious sites and cities in the world.

"They used to say that Ayodhya would be developed better than other religious places in the world. They even said that Ayodhya would be made more beautiful than Vatican City. You must have heard the speeches of many leaders in which they said Ayodhya would be developed better than other religious sites and cities," he said.

"But what we are seeing now is that poor people are being uprooted on a large scale. Their livelihood is being taken away and they are being treated with discrimination," he said.

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Yadav said the government could present its justification for the demolitions, but its approach towards poor people should be considerate.

"Their capital is invested in their houses. At least they should have been given an opportunity to remove the belongings from their homes," he said.

He alleged that several families were not allowed to take out their belongings before their houses and shops were demolished and that their goods were destroyed or taken away by bulldozers.

"I am assuring these families that the government should compensate them for whatever loss they have suffered. If this government does not do so, then when a Samajwadi government is formed in the future, it will fully compensate them for their houses and whatever other loss they have suffered," Yadav said.

He also accused the government of having a "bulldozer, demolition and destructive" approach towards laws, the Constitution, rules and people's rights and dignity.

The remarks come amid the political controversy over alleged theft and embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple. Yadav had raised the issue in June. The temple trust subsequently made organisational changes, including creation of a CEO post, while an investigation into the allegations is underway.

Eight people have been arrested in the case and are currently lodged in jail, with their matter under trial in court.