MK Party defends Zuma after photo with Ajay Gupta at Haridwar temple

According to IOL, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has defended former president Jacob Zuma after a photograph emerged showing him at a Hindu temple in Haridwar, northern India, alongside Ajay Gupta.

What happened in India

According to IOL, Zuma was photographed at the Siddhpeeth Shri Dakshin Kali Mandir in Haridwar, where Indian media reported he was accompanied by Ajay Gupta and South Africa’s High Commissioner to India, Professor Anil Sooklal. The report said Zuma travelled to Uttarakhand in late June and offered prayers at the temple.

MK Party response

According to IOL, MK Party spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu did not deny that Zuma met Ajay Gupta during the visit but rejected suggestions the meeting undermined South Africa’s efforts to hold the Gupta family accountable.

“President Jacob Zuma is a private citizen and is entitled to travel wherever he chooses. His visit to India is not unprecedented. He has attended this annual event for many years, dating back to around 2012, and has a longstanding relationship with Priest Abhinav Ungamuthu,” Mahlangu told IOL.

According to IOL, Mahlangu also said:

“If a member of the Gupta family attended a religious event where two other former Heads of State were attending, it is not the problem of uMkhonto weSizwe Party.”

Broader criticism and legal context cited by MK Party

According to IOL, Mahlangu criticised the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, saying it had cost taxpayers billions without securing convictions against either Zuma or the Gupta family. He pointed to other meetings and visits involving figures under scrutiny to argue against a double standard, and noted that Zuma is a private citizen free to attend religious gatherings.

Zuma’s remarks during the visit

According to IOL, the spiritual leader who hosted Zuma said it was the former president’s first visit to Haridwar and that Zuma travelled from Delhi to Saharanpur before proceeding to the temple. IOL reported Zuma used the occasion to tell reporters he remained confident of returning to power and that he believed he would win future elections because “the people of God” had stood by him. He also reflected on his removal from office and said he was pleased to be visiting India “at the right time.”

Questions raised by Ajay Gupta’s presence

According to IOL, Ajay Gupta is one of the Gupta brothers accused of playing a central role in South Africa’s state capture scandal. The report noted that Ajay Gupta’s appearance at the religious gathering has drawn scrutiny because his whereabouts have been largely unknown to South African authorities in recent years.

Diplomatic and legal implications flagged

According to IOL, the public appearance of South Africa’s High Commissioner alongside Ajay Gupta at the event prompted questions about whether authorities were aware of Ajay Gupta’s location and whether that information could have implications for future extradition efforts involving members of the Gupta family.