Previous govts neglected religious spots: Shah
Union home minister lays foundation of Vindhyachal Corridor project, inaugurates ropeway between Kalikhoh, Ashtbhuja temples
VARANASI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said those who governed Uttar Pradesh earlier had not done development of religious centres due to their vote-bank politics and asserted that his BJP will form the government with a bigger majority in the 2022 assembly polls. He was speaking at a function in Mirzapur in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
In what appeared to be a jibe at the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress, he asked the parties which were power in past as to why they didn’t constitute Brij development board and why they were against the construction of Ram Temple.
The home minister said, “I want to ask those who were in power earlier as to why the Ram temple was not constructed? Why was development of Braj region not undertaken? Why nothing was done for development of Chitrakoot where Lord Ram spent over 11 years? Why was the corridor of Maa Vindhyavasini not built?... Because you were afraid of vote-bank politics.”
He also said, “As you people gave blessings to Modiji in 2019, a grand Ram Temple is being built in Ayodhya. A grand Kashi Vishwanath Corridor is (also) being built. Development work is being done at Chitrakoot Dham, Ayodhya and in Braj.”
Shah was speaking after laying the foundation of Vindhyachal Corridor project in Mirzapur in the presence of chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Shah also inaugurated the ropeway between Kalikhoh and Ashtbhuja temples. Vindhyachal Corridor is expected to come up at an estimated cost of about Rs 150 crore. It is being constructed on the lines of Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi.
Just as the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor will ensure the visibility of the spires of the Kashi Vishwanath temple from the Ganga ghats of Varanasi, devotees will be able to see the Vindhyavasini temple from the banks of the Ganga at Vindhyachal in Mirzapur.
He also said that he went to all the Kumbhs, but there were unmatched arrangements at the Prayagraj Kumbh held in early 2019.
“The BJP does not practise vote-bank politics, hence its government gave a tangible shape to the development of these religious centres,” Shah told the gathering.
He said, “Be it the development of Braj teerth (pilgrimage), Chitrakoot Dham or the grand Deepotsav of Ayodhya, the BJP’s Yogi Adityanath government has revived every tradition and fulfilled long-pending wishes of people.”
The Vindhyachal Corridor Project involves creating a wide parikrama (circumambulation) route around the Vindhyavasini temple and setting up various facilities for devotees.
“Today, there has been the bhoomi pujan of the Maa Vindhyavasini Corridor Project, and inauguration of the ropeway. If a Shravan Kumar has to bring his aged parents here now...he can use the ropeway and complete the triangular parikrama,” he said.
Highlighting the development works done in Uttar Pradesh by the Yogi government during the last four years, Shah expressed confidence that people of the state will give their blessings to the BJP government in 2022 because the SP and the BSP together could not undertake as much development in UP during their respective regimes as Adityanath did in four years.
Appealing to the people to vote for the BJP in the 2022 UP assembly polls, Shah said, “The SP and the BSP came together and then SP, BSP and Congress joined hands. But you (the people) didn’t move. You gave yours blessing to the BJP in 2014, 2017 and 2019. I am confident that the BJP government led by Yogi Adityanath will get your blessings in 2022 and we will form the government with a stronger absolute majority. We are committed to serving UP.”
Mentioning a number of projects done in UP by the Yogi government, Shah sought an account of developmental works from SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP president Mayavati done during their respective regimes in the state.
Shah said, “Akhileshbhai, show the account. Yogiji has done much development in four years. If both you and Buaji (Mayawati) had done half of it in 15 years, then the people of the state will forgive you.”
The projects in UP mentioned by Shah included five international airports, seven airstrips, Purvanchal Expressway (which is in its final phase), Bundelkhand Expressway (being built) and Ballia Link Expressway (that has been approved).