NEW DELHI: VHP international president Alok Kumar Sunday said there was “no pressure” on Champat Rai to resign from Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and accused opposition of trying to use the row over alleged misappropriation of Ram temple donations for political gain.

On SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s promise to develop Ayodhya as “Siyaram Dham” if voted to power, Kumar said the claim did not inspire confidence in view of the party’s past record in the temple town. Kumar alleged that Ayodhya remained neglected under SP govt. “He neither came to Ayodhya for darshan nor worked for its development. Ayodhya resembled a forgotten village. There was dust everywhere, broken roads and dilapidated infrastructure,” he said. Referring to the 1990 police firing on karsevaks during Mulayam Singh Yadav’s tenure as CM, Kumar said voters would judge SP by its record. “Merely giving attractive election slogans in the name of Lord Ram will not work. The public understands the reality,” he added. VHP chief also targeted Congress over allegations that valuables had gone missing from the Ram temple. Citing Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri’s statement that gold, silver and other valuables were safe, Kumar asked Congress to produce documentary evidence. Calling the allegations an attempt to create unrest and hurt Hindu sentiment, Kumar demanded police action under Section 353 of BNS.