LUCKNOW: It was Treta Yug redux as Ayodhya, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed home Lord Ram after the mythical exile of 14 years.
Precisely 1.71 lakh diyas were lighted on the banks of river Sarayu and over two lakh across the temple town as part of the mega Diwali celebrations.
Adityanath, accompanied by Governor Ram Naik and his senior ministers, descended on Ayodhya to preside over a grand show in the temple town.
Announcing a slew of development projects for Ayodhya, Adityanath stayed clear from raking the controversial temple debate. He claimed his government and the Centre were pulling all efforts to realise an utopian dream.“If every citizen has a roof over his head, power supply, basic amenities, education, and adequate opportunities that transcend caste, creed and religion, the dream of Ram Rajya will come true,” he said, addressing people at Ram Katha Park.“We are working to accomplish this.”
However, his deputy Keshav Maurya made no bones about the temple issue. He asserted
that while the governments were awaiting Supreme Court’s order to make a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, there was no bar on celebrating the ethos of Lord Rama, his life and victory on the banks of River Sarayu. “No one can stop us from worshipping Lord Ram, and river Sarayu,” he stated.
Lamenting the neglect Ayodhya had allegedly been subjected to by previous dispensations, the Chief Minister launched a scathing attack on the opposition claiming he was in Ayodhya with a development agenda.
“I am not here to divert attention from real issues as they claim. I have come here with Rs 135 crore development projects for all in the temple town so that everyone can prosper equally and Ayodhya can be put on the tourist map of the country,” he stated. He also exhorted the political forces of the country to change negative Ayodhya discourse. “Let's give Ayodhya its due.”
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However, the event, which went into the Guinness book of world records for lighting lakhs of diyas at one place in a single go followed by a spectacular laser show on the life and times of Lord Rama, was perceived differently by the saffron party’s adversaries and political pundits. They read it as an attempt to woo people ahead of civic polls in November. Faizabad-Ayodhya has now been converted into a Municipal Corporation.
The political experts also chose to associate the event with the BJP’s roadmap for 2019 Lok Sabha elections.“Undoubtedly, this is BJP’s patented way of giving an Ayodhya push to it 2019 agenda,” quipped a political scientist.
At a glance
Adityanath announces a slew of development projects for the temple town
The UP CM stays away from raking the controversial temple issue on the occasion
He exhorts the political forces in the country to change negative Ayodhya discourse
Yogi claims his own team in UP and Modi-led government at the Centre are putting all efforts to realise the utopian dream for the country
Ganga-Jamuni culture
The much-talked-about Ganga-Jamuni culture was reflected as people from all sections participated actively in making the event a grand success. In fact, the Ram Shobha Yatra was organised and led through the streets of Ayodhya by the Muslims of the temple town.