Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has stated that individuals who previously ordered firing on Ram devotees, subjected saints to lathi charges, and disregarded Ayodhya should first apologize to the devotees and saints before visiting the Ram temple.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Chief Minister’s remarks were made shortly after the announcement that Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav intended to visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya on December 12.
Addressing the 10th edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya, Adityanath stated, “Those who had neglected and insulted (Ayodhya), who had opened fire on Ram devotees and subjected saints to lathicharge, should certainly come to Ayodhya, but only after apologising. Let them apologise once to Ram devotees and once to the saints. Let them repent for their actions.”
The Chief Minister, without explicitly naming the Samajwadi Party or its president, took aim at previous administrations regarding their handling of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, the firing incidents involving kar sevaks, and the alleged neglect of Ayodhya. His comments appeared to be a response to Yadav’s recent participation in a religious discourse in Ayodhya, where Adityanath questioned the conduct of certain political figures at such gatherings.
“Those who used to leave the streets of Ayodhya soaked in blood are today unable even to recall their own past,” Adityanath remarked, adding that some individuals appeared unaware of the appropriate decorum for religious discourse.
He further elaborated on this point, stating, “Sometimes I am surprised at these people. When they go to a religious discourse, they do not even know the decorum of a katha (religious narration). Is it a katha or a mushaira (Urdu poetry gathering)? Even this they do not know. We have our own decorum and sacred traditions for religious discourses. But because of their unruly disposition, they disregard the dignity of Lord Ram and the sanctity of the katha, and make an ill-advised attempt to turn it into a mushaira.”
Adityanath emphasized the significance of Lord Ram, describing him as the embodiment of India’s national consciousness, culture, values, and self-respect, and the very life force of the nation.
“Look at the scene that has come alive before us today. This is the strength of Lord Ram’s consciousness. It is, in fact, the consciousness of India. This is India’s culture and its values. Lord Ram is the life force of the Indian nation and, if you may say so, Lord Ram is India’s self-respect,” he asserted.
Referring to Ayodhya’s esteemed position as the foremost among the seven sacred cities (Saptapuris) in Hindu scriptures, Adityanath acknowledged that the city had faced numerous challenges. He highlighted that despite these difficulties, Ram devotees, saints, Naga ascetics, Nihang Sikhs, and individuals from all societal strata had persevered. He recalled the 500 years of foreign rule and the protracted Ram Janmabhoomi movement, noting a period when doubts lingered about the possibility of Ram Lalla’s eventual reinstatement at his birthplace.
“Today, Ayodhya is once again regaining the glory for which kar sevaks sacrificed their lives and revered saints struggled. The long movement for the Ram Janmabhoomi, under the leadership of Ashok Singhal and the guidance of revered saints, has culminated in Ayodhya, in accordance with the aspirations of its people, under the guidance and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he stated.
The Chief Minister recounted past hardships, saying, “There was a time when even uttering the name of Shri Ram in Ayodhya invited lathis and bullets. Banning the very name of Ram in this city was a sin. Ayodhya was neglected and almost consigned to oblivion. Today, that very Ayodhya has come alive again, reminding us of the Treta Yuga.”
In a veiled critique of opposition parties, Adityanath noted that those who had previously neglected Ayodhya were now witnessing its contemporary transformation. He also indirectly addressed the Congress party, referencing the legal proceedings concerning the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute and past attempts to question the existence of Lord Ram.
“Those who had assembled an army of lawyers in courts to deny the existence of Lord Ram have at least now acquired the wisdom to accept his existence. This is our ideological victory,” Adityanath declared.
Explaining what he termed the “ideological victory,” Adityanath stated that Lord Ram’s embrace extended to everyone, regardless of social standing. “Ram accepts everyone. But if someone comes in the guise of Maricha (the demon who disguised himself as a golden deer to lure Lord Ram away from Sita), he will not be able to escape Ram’s arrows,” he concluded.
The Chenab Times News Desk
