YOGI’S RELIGIOUS PILGRIMAGE TRAIL
BJP is eager to ensure that Hindus continue to vote for it, something the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had been working on for quite some time,” said Athar Siddiqui from the Centre for Objective Research and Development.
The BJP won a two-thirds majority in the assembly elections on a development plank with the PM promising to make UP — one of India’s poorest states — into a manufacturing and jobs hub. Similar promises were made when the BJP swept the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
But analysts now feel that that the saffron party wants to keep alive Hindutva issues that propelled it to national importance in the 90s, on the back of a movement around the building of a Ram Temple.
The Ram Temple issue, along with plans to rebuild temples “ignored” by previous regimes, have made a return to the state government’s agenda. Adityanath has also made special budgetary Three visits to Ayodhya, sanctioning ₹483 crore for development work
Special budgetary provisions for Ayodhya,
Mathura and Varanasi Lifting of ban on music for ‘kanwariyas’ (Shiva pilgrims)
Grand Janmashtami celebrations in August Grand Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya, even grander ‘Dev Dipawali’ celebrations in Varanasi, Prime Minister Modi’s LS constituency provisions to develop the temple towns of Mathura, Varanasi and Ayodhya.
“Adityanath’s religious trail could well be an attempt to keep the Hindu voters engaged. Who knows closer to 2019 Lok Sabha polls, which some feel could be advanced, the BJP might have a surprise or two in store on the Ayodhya temple issue too,” added Siddiqui.
The government is looking to develop other Hindu religious sites such as Chitrakoot – where