Ahead of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s proposed visit to Ram temple in Ayodhya, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday sought an apology from those who opened fire at karsevaks in 1990. Without addressing Yadav directly, Adityanath demanded that an apology be tendered to ‘Ram Bhakts’ before visiting Ayodhya.
The SP has maintained that the then government had to act to maintain law and order. The chief minister was addressing seers at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya at the 10th edition of Deepotsav. “Those who got bullets fired on karsevaks, who shed the blood of Ram Bhakts on the streets of Ayodhya, are coming here to seek blessings. “Ayodhya is the land of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram. The chief minister further claimed that Ayodhya has transformed from a neglected town into a global spiritual destination under the double-engine government. “The Lord is very kind. He will forgive everyone. The Lord does not take long to end the arrogance of power,” Adityanath added, speaking in Hindi.
The chief minister was referring to the firing that took place on October 30 and November 2 in 1990, during the government of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. Adityanath credited 10 years of Deepotsav, the construction of the Ram temple and infrastructure development for restoring Ayodhya’s ancient glory. Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party leader Tej Narayan Pandey alias Pawan Pandey had said SP national president, along with his family, would visit the Hanuman Garhi temple and Ram temple in Ayodhya on December 12. The remark came after the SP announced that Akhilesh Yadav would visit the Ram Temple on December 12, his first visit to the temple that was built around two years ago after decades of litigation over the land where the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992.
Taking aim at Yadav, Adityanath said, “Tender an apology to Ram Bhakts first for firing on karsevaks before coming to Ayodhya. First, they should apologise to the karsevaks, to the seers, and to the people of Ayodhya,” the chief minister said. Adityanath also said Ayodhya does not belong to any one party or family. Those who insulted the sentiments of crores of Ram Bhakts cannot wash away their sins merely by visiting the temple,” he said. The chief minister said the same forces that had opposed the Ram temple movement were now trying to take political mileage from the Ram temple. This is the victory of the faith of the people,” he said. Earlier reporting noted: “Those who bloodied Ayodhya are also remembering Ayodhya,” Adityanath said at the tenth edition of the Deepotsav, the lighting of thousands of earthen lamps, in the Hindu holy city. Earlier reporting noted: “Those who bloodied Ayodhya are also remembering Ayodhya,” Adityanath said at the 10th edition of the Deepotsav, the lighting of thousands of earthen lamps, in Ayodhya. “Let them come to Ayodhya, but they should seek forgiveness from Ram bhakts (devotees),” Adityanath said, not naming Akhilesh, who was chief minister before Adityanath succeeded him in 2017 as the BJP took power.
“Earlier, they used to say Ram did not exist. Today they are coming to Ayodhya. Earlier reporting noted: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav was welcome to visit Ayodhya but should first apologise to Lord Ram’s devotees.
