LUCKNOW: Around 400 saints and seers in Ayodhya have openly opposed the proposed visit of Samajwadi Party national president and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to the temple town on December 12 this year to offer prayers to Ram Lalla.
Vowing to block his entry into the city's traditional sacred boundaries, the saints and seers have demanded an apology from Akhilesh Yadav, saying he would be allowed to enter the Ram Janmabhoomi area only after apologising for the firing on karsevaks during the temple movement in 1990.
At a meeting held at Maniram Chhavni in Ayodhya late on Wednesday evening, the saints decided to oppose his visit unless he apologised to the families of those who lost their lives in the firing during his father's tenure as chief minister.
Expressing displeasure over the SP chief's proposed visit, the saints unanimously passed seven resolutions at the meeting. They declared that Akhilesh Yadav would not be allowed to enter the traditional five-kosi (sacred) boundary of the temple town unless he apologised for the 1990 firing incident.
Swami Rajkumar Das, a member of the Shri Ram Temple Religious Committee, said with tears in his eyes: “I have received information that Akhilesh Yadav will visit Ayodhya to have darshan of Ram Lalla. The saints are not opposed to his visit, because Lord Ram belongs to everyone and Ayodhya also belongs to everyone.
However, in 1990, during the tenure of then Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Ram devotees were shot dead on October 30 and November 2. The saints are protesting against this incident. Akhilesh Yadav should apologise for it.”
He said that after apologising, Akhilesh Yadav should visit Ayodhya, take a dip in the Saryu and offer prayers at all the temples, including Hanumangarhi, Ram Lalla Sarkar and Kanak Bihari Sarkar. However, before that, he should meet the families who lost their sons, brothers and husbands in the firing and apologise to them.
The seer clarified that the saints were neither opposed to Akhilesh Yadav personally nor to his visit to Ram Lalla. However, they questioned why the SP chief had not found it necessary to visit Ayodhya during his tenure as Chief Minister from 2012 to 2017.
According to the saints, the events surrounding the Ram Janmabhoomi movement remain an important part of Ayodhya's religious and historical memory. They believe that the sacrifices of the karsevaks and the sentiments of their families must be acknowledged and respected.
The demand comes amid renewed political exchanges between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party over Akhilesh Yadav's decision to visit the Ram Temple. His proposed December 12 visit is expected to be accompanied by his family.
Various political figures and seers have described Akhilesh Yadav's planned visit as a political move rather than a purely devotional one.
Mahant Ramdas of Siddhpeeth Naka Hanumangarhi said Akhilesh Yadav's visit was not religious but politically motivated. The saints would not allow him to go ahead with it.
“Whether he comes to Ayodhya, the saints will oppose him. The protest will end only when he apologises for his statement. If he does not apologise, the saints will demand his return from Ayodhya,” he said.
He said Akhilesh Yadav would not be allowed to enter the Panchkosi (sacred) boundary of Ayodhya. The saints would try to prevent him from entering the temple town and having darshan of Ram Lalla. The agency arranging his visit and darshan would be responsible, as the saints would certainly protest.
Acharya Mithilesh Nandini Sharan also accused Akhilesh Yadav of visiting Ayodhya to mislead people ahead of the 2027 polls. He compared the SP chief to ‘Mareech’, who should be barred from entering ‘Panchvati’ (read Ayodhya) so that he could be exposed.
Some saints even challenged the religious credentials of the SP chief, saying that if he was visiting Ayodhya out of devotion to Lord Ram, he should also work towards getting the Krishna Janmabhoomi freed.
On the other hand, the SP chief has defended his decision, stating that God belongs to everyone and religious faith should not be viewed through a political lens. He has also indicated plans to visit other prominent religious destinations.
However, earlier, whenever he was questioned about not visiting the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, he would cite the construction of a Kedareshwar temple in Etawah, saying he would visit the Ram Temple after its inauguration.