‘We will develop Ayodhya as per Lord Ram’s ideals’
AYODHYA : The temple town of Ayodhya saw its first municipal corporation election this time and elected its first mayor. The urban local body of Faizabad-Ayodhya was upgraded to the municipal corporation in May this year and named Ayodhya Nagar Nigam. Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rishikesh Upadhyaya, who was elected the mayor, spoke to Pankaj
Jaiswal in Ayodhya. Excerpts:
What’s your priority now that you have been elected the first mayor of Ayodhya?
Bhagwaan Ram ke adarshon ke anuroop Ayodhya ka vikas aur saundriyakaran kiya jayega (The priority is to develop and beautify Ayodhya in accordance with Lord Ram’s ideals. Ayodhya’s old world charm will be kept intact. Greenery will be enhanced, and the town will be made clean and hygienic.
Ayodhya has been so much in focus, but why is it so underdeveloped, with filth, debris, broken roads, and lack of all kinds of civic amenities?
It is all because of the previous regimes. When BJP’s Kalyan Singh was chief minister, ₹21 crore was sanctioned for the town, but his government went away (was dismissed) and the subsequent government did not do anything for the town.
But then, how will you develop it now?
Not me alone. Ayodhya never had it this good before. We have BJP governments at the centre, in the state, and now in the urban local body. You will see the difference within a year. We will implement the manifesto that the chief minister Yogi Adityanath had released before the civic polls.
What do you have to say about chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s focus on Ayodhya?
That’s nothing new. He and his guru (Mahant Avaidnath) are well known for their Hindu ideals and identities. Since he became the chief minister, Yogiji visited the town four times and was a regular visitor even before. It’s apparent how important the development of Ayodhya for him will be as he had launched the UP civic polls campaign from here. He had said the rest of the state would become as dazzling as Ayodhya after the government held a grand Deepotsava on the eve of Diwali.
How well do you know Ayodhya?
Like the back of my hand. I was born, brought up, educated here. My political career has all been here. I know well what has to be done where.
Do you have a political background/family?
This was the first election that I ever contested. I was city president of the BJP Yuva Morcha of Ayodhya earlier. Before that, I was associated with ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad). But, I do not have a political background. Political backgrounds and dynasties exist in other parties. Not in BJP. Here any worker can rise to any position by sheer dint of his or her work. My family was not in politics.
You are 41, must have been very young at the time of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement of the 1990s?
Yes, I was 14 or 15 years old, but I was part of it. I had joined the Bal Swayam Sevak of RSS. I was part of the teams that provided tea, refreshments to kar sevaks at that time at the Katha Kunj Karyalaya close to the Ram (disputed) Janmabhoomi site.
What’s your strength in the Nagar Nigam?
I am the mayor, and of the 60 corporators that Ayodhya has elected, 32 are from the BJP. We will take this figure of 32 to 50 by winning them over to our ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.’
What about Muslims in Ayodhya?
Why ask about them separately? They all are part of Ayodhya. It feels awkward when they are talked about separately. We are not the kind that will not provide electricity to a Muslim area. Gone are the days of such governments which deprived Muslims of amenities to maintain vote banks. It is famous all ever that nowhere in the world Muslims are as safe and secure as they are in Ayodhya.
How do you see your victory?
These are the blessings of Hanumanji (Lord Hanuman) Yogiji. I knew I would win, but when the result came in, I felt here is a big responsibility. Soon after the result, I first went to Hanumangarhi, then to Rangmahal temple, met Mahant Nritya Gopaldas ji at Choti Chavnai,
Mahant Ramdas Ji at Naka Hanumangadhi, and then met Ayodhya people. Ram Janmabhoomi was closed much before the results came in. But now I will (go there). I am a frequent devotee there.
And what do you have to say about the Ram Temple?
I dream of the temple coming up at the Ram Janmabhoomi with me as a mayor here. The case is pending in the Supreme Court and the dayto-day hearing will begin from December 5. Already, the high court verdict had recognised the spot as Ram Janmabhoomi.
This was the first election that I ever contested. I was city president of the BJP Yuva Morcha of Ayodhya earlier. Before that, I was with the ABVP. But, I do not have a political background.
I am the mayor, and of the 60 corporators that Ayodhya has elected, 32 are from the BJP. We will take this figure of 32 to 50 by winning them over to our ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.’