Hindustan Times (East UP)

Ram temple has been possible due to PM: Yogi

- HT Correspond­ent letters@htlive.com

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday gave credit for the constructi­on of Ram temple in Ayodhya to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It is due to PM Modi’s planning and strategy that Ram temple is being constructe­d in Ayodhya after a long wait of five decades,” said Yogi while addressing a gathering at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya.

Yogi said it was Modi’s dream to develop Ayodhya as “Vedic Ramayana City” and it should be the most beautiful city.

“Our generation is not only fortunate to see the start of the constructi­on of Ram temple here but we also attended the historic event. In the struggle of 500 years, many saints passed away with a dream to see the start of constructi­on. I thank PM Modi, who is the one who implemente­d the ideology of Ram Rajya,” he said.

Yogi, governor Anandiben Patel and deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya were in Ayodhya along with several UP ministers for the fourth Deepotsav celebratio­ns.

This is the first Deepotsav celebratio­n in Ayodhya after the bhumi pujan of Ram temple on August 5 in which Modi was the chief guest. But participat­ion of locals was restricted in all the events due to Covid-19 and entry of outsiders into Ayodhya was banned. “We all wanted to see Ram temple. This task has been accomplish­ed by PM Modi,” said Yogi. “Whenever I used to come to Ayodhya and talk about developmen­t, saints used to ask me about Ram temple,” the chief minister said.

“PM Modi came to Ayodhya even in Covid-19 by following all protocols for bhumi pujan of Ram temple,” said the CM. Yogi

said Ayodhya’s branding is now through the Deepotsav event.

Yogi and Patel later launched a website -- https://virtualdee­potsav.com-- for people to take part in the Deepotsav virtually. The CM also launched a cover on Deepotsav prepared by Ram Manohar Lohia Awadh University, Faizabad.

Without naming anyone, the CM attacked the previous state government. “This government is developing panchi kosi, chaudah koshi and chaurasi kosi parikrama routes in Ayodhya. But previous government­s used to ban them,” he said. “This Deepotsav, a record of lighting 5.51 lakh diyas will be created. Next year this figure will be 7.51 lakh,” he asserted.

The CM pointed out that due to Covid-19 pandemic, celebratio­ns in this Deepotsav have been curtailed. “Otherwise, celebratio­ns would have been organized on grand scale,” he said.

Listing the welfare schemes of the Centre, launched by BJP-led NDA government after 2014 general election, the CM said: “All welfare schemes of the Modi government have been implemente­d for all sections of society, without any bias.”

Earlier, replicatin­g the return the journey of Lord Ram to Ayodhya, along with his younger brother Lakshman and wife Sita by a Pushpak Viman, artistes descended at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya by a helicopter. Yogi and Patel received them and took them to the main venue in the park

Like Bharat welcomed Lord Ram on his return to Ayodhya after his 14-year exile and killing of demon king Ravan, Yogi and others carried out ‘Raj Tilak’ of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita

The Deepotsav celebratio­ns began in Ayodhya with a tableaux procession from Saket College to Ram Katha Park depicting Ram’s return to Ayodhya from exile.

 ??  ?? Devotees light earthen lamps on the bank of Saryu river during Deepotsav celebratio­ns in Ayodhya on Friday. The Uttar Pradesh government marked the occasion with a sound and light show, cultural programmes and the lighting of earthen lamps.
Devotees light earthen lamps on the bank of Saryu river during Deepotsav celebratio­ns in Ayodhya on Friday. The Uttar Pradesh government marked the occasion with a sound and light show, cultural programmes and the lighting of earthen lamps.

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