PRAYAGRAJ, July 8 -- Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress of remaining silent over alleged irregularities involving Waqf properties while targeting them over their remarks on Ayodhya, claiming they had sought to hurt Hindu sentiments. He made the remarks after inaugurating and laying foundation stones for development projects in Pratapgarh. Addressing a public meeting at the Government Inter College (GIC) ground, Adityanath alleged that thousands of hectares of land had been disposed of in the name of Waqf across the country and Uttar Pradesh. He claimed the land belonged to poor and weaker sections but had been encroached upon by a select few. "Why do the SP and Congress become silent whenever the issue of Waqf comes up?" he asked. The chief minister also accused previous SP and Congress governments of misusing public funds in the name of cemetery boundary walls, allowing illegal slaughterhouses to function and hurting Hindu sentiments. He further alleged that Ram devotees faced police action during their tenure, Kanwar Yatra processions were restricted, Janmashtami celebrations faced curbs, Durga Puja pandals were stopped and communal disturbances often took place before Hindu festivals. Without directly referring to the recent allegations regarding theft of offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, CM Yogi criticised the opposition over its remarks on the issue. He said Ram devotees had every right to express concern for Ayodhya as their ancestors had struggled for the temple movement. "Since when have the SP and Congress developed faith in Ayodhya?" he remarked, alleging that their disappointment stemmed from the construction of the Ram Temple at the site where they had wanted to see the Babri structure remain. In a swipe at the opposition, the chief minister said even a chameleon would be embarrassed by how quickly SP and Congress leaders changed their stand. The CM said, "The SP and Congress are insulting Hindus and attacking faith over a single incident. They are playing with Hindu faith over the alleged theft in Ayodhya, but in the name of Waqf, thousands of hectares of land belonging to the poor and weaker sections have been sold across the country and the state. These lands could have been allotted to the poor. Some selected people committed irregularities by facilitating encroachments in the name of Waqf and selling those lands, but the Congress and SP did not utter a single word on this." He stated that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust had requested the state government to constitute an SIT. I had said that the SIT would certainly separate truth from falsehood. Acting on its preliminary report, the Trust lodged an FIR. Action was also taken against those against whom evidence existed. But why are the mouths of the Congress and SP sealed with Fevicol in the name of Waqf? Highlighting Ayodhya's development, Adityanath said the city had witnessed major improvements in air, rail and road connectivity under the "double-engine government". He alleged that the opposition was attempting to divide society on caste lines after failing to counter the city's development. The CM felicitated Shraddha Pandey of Pacharas village in Pratapgarh, who topped the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) examination, during the programme. He presented her with an iPad and congratulated her for bringing laurels to the region. CM Yogi also felicitated 19 beneficiaries of various government welfare schemes, including recipients under the Chief Minister Bal Seva Yojana, Chief Minister Housing Scheme, National Rural Livelihood Mission, Ayushman Bharat, PM Awas Yojana (Urban), PM SVANidhi, One District One Product (ODOP) scheme and other state welfare programmes....