Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, said on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will conduct the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla at the forthcoming Ram Temple in Ayodhya in January next year. He further stated that the celebration will be followed by a huge Deepotsav later this year, during which up to 21 lakh diyas (earthen lights) would be ignited across the temple town.
“Jab 500 varshon ke baad Ram Lalla apne mandir mein virajmaan honge to saari duniya akarshit hogi,” Yogi remarked while addressing a big crowd in Ayodhya as part of the BJP's Mahasampark Abhiyan, which marked the end of Narendra Modi's nine-year tenure at the Centre.
Yogi's remark coincides with the talks that the Temple Trust has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to unveil the Ram temple on January 22. Although formal approval from the Prime Minister's office is still pending. The CM urged BJP MPs to participate in the numerous activities and campaigns planned for Ayodhya in the coming days. He further hailed Ayodhya as an area that not only aspired to the 'Ram Rajya' that once ruled under the Treta Yug, but also inspired the entire country under the capable leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Ek baar phir se Ayodhya Treta Yug ki yaad dila raja hai jab Ram Rajya ki parkalpana ko sakar kiya gaya tha. Aaj us oar na sirf Ayodhya ja rahi hai balki PM Modi ke netratva mein poore desh ko nayi prerna bhi de rahi hai. Ye aaj poori duniya ki sabse vaibhavshali nagri ban rahi hai,” he said. According to Yogi, Ayodhya also represented the ideal connection that a “Shashak” (ruler) should have with his “Praja (people). Ye wahi Ayodhya hai jiska naam lene par pehle log sankoch karte they,” Yogi joked, referring to former SP and BSP regimes.
Yogi pointed out explicitly that he has been visiting Ayodhya once every two months to assess the developmental efforts. The CM admitted that the city's residents may face some early difficulties as a result of the development initiatives. “But one has to bear the pain to achieve a higher goal,” he added, adding that the roads in Ayodhya will be equivalent to those in Dehi within the next four to six months.
“And we named them Ram Path,” he added. Similarly, the path leading from Sugreev Qila to Ram Janambhoomi would be known as the Bhakti Path. Yogi stated that monies were available for the construction of sacred sites such as Ayodhya, Kashi (Varanasi), Mathura, and Prayagraj. “The shortage prevailed in previous regimes when the state coffers were subjected to loot and corruption,” he remarked, taking another jab at the opposition. During the recently ended civic elections, he noted, people exhibited trust in the BJP's “double engine” government. “The government is working to provide basic infrastructure in the state and is reaching out to people in every community,” he added.
