‘Saints wishes will be fulfilled automatically’
ALLAHABAD: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said there was no need for saints to demand anything and that everything will happen on its own.
His remark appeared to be a possible reference to construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Hindu saints have been raising this demand, especially now that the BJP has governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh. Adityanath hinted at the fulfilment of the saints’ demand automatically. He said all the seers needed to do was bless him and his government. Adityanath was speaking at the Sant Sammelan (meeting of saints) organised by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) at the Parade ground in Allahabad. He took part in the event in the capacity of mahant (chief priest) of Gorakhnath temple.
Temple construction was among the core issues on the sammelan agenda.
Assuring the saints, Adityanath said yoga got international recognition under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rule without the saints even having made the demand.
Besides, Kumbh Mela was included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Human- ity list, he said, adding their other demand will also get fulfilled.
Accepting that were some hurdles in the temple construction, he said all would be overcome with the blessings of saints.
Several saints from ashrams, akharas and temples of the state reiterated their demand for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya besides freeing Ganga of pollution and enforcing ban on cow slaughter.
Adityanath said preparations for holding a magnificent Ardh Kumbh 2019 (now known as Kumbh-2019) will be monitored by a Margdarshak Mandal comprising saints from all akharas with the All India Akhara Parishad president as its chairman.
Work on the same had started from April 2017 onwards, he added.
“Today, my government completed 10 months. The work done by us is before the public. This year, the (ongoing) Magh Mela witnessed the best sanitation and other arrangements as it was a rehearsal for the Kumbh. The arrangements for the Kumbh will be even better. For the first time, a logo for the Kumbh has been made,” he added.
Adityanath referred to efforts to improve the condition of cows in UP after an effective ban on its slaughter.
He announced the preparation of a project wherein ‘gaushalas’ would come up in every village. “If a gaushala comes up in every village, with 400 to 500 cows, the need for LPG will be addressed completely. Besides, village residents will also get compost for their crops. We will provide technical assistance to all theses gaushalas for maintenance,” he added.
Those present on the occasion included Swami Chinmayanand of Parmarth Ashram, Rishikesh, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, chairman of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, Ayodhya, Swami Vasudevanand Saraswati, Mahant Narendra Giri, president of All India Akhara Parishad, Ramratan Dasji (Phalhari baba), Mauni Baba, VHP international general secretary Champat Rai, deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, cabinet ministers Sidharth Nath Singh and Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi.
CM REVIEWS PREPARATIONS FOR KUMBH
Adityanath visited the Sangam area and reviewed preparations for the Ardh Kumbh 2019 (now known as Kumbh). He also enquired about the new projects that are to be launched for the event.
Later, on arriving at the dais for the Sant Sammelan, he welcomed all saints present by garlanding them and presenting a shawl to each.
The chief minister was welcomed on behalf of the saints by Swami Vasudevanad Saraswati who presented a silver ‘kalash’ (urn) to him.