Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav’s announcement that he would visit the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on December 12 has triggered a political slugfest in Uttar Pradesh, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) challenging him to visit the temple on December 6, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, and apologise for the killing of kar sevaks during the then SP government.
Apologise for the grave sin of getting hundreds of Ram devotees killed. Akhilesh Yadav, accompanied by his wife Dimple Yadav and other family members, will first offer prayers at Hanumangarhi and then have darshan of Ram Lalla, SP leader and former Ayodhya MLA Pawan Pandey announced on November 7. “If this is not a new political ploy in the name of Lord Ram but genuine repentance, then visit the Ram temple on December 6, not 12.
Chaudhary, who is also a Union minister, said that if Yadav’s visit was an act of genuine repentance and not a political ploy in the name of Lord Ram, he should prove it by choosing the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition. Do not think your past sins will be washed away; rather, this pretence of devotion to Lord Ram will cost you whatever little political existence you have left,” Chaudhary said in a post on X.
BJP MLC Subhash Yaduvansh also criticised the SP chief, alleging that his party’s government had ordered firing on kar sevaks. State BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary challenged Yadav to visit Ayodhya on December 6 instead and apologise for the killing of kar sevaks during the Mulayam Singh Yadav government. Earlier, at Deepotsav in Ayodhya on November 7, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had said: “Let them come to Ayodhya, but they should seek forgiveness from Ram bhakts. Earlier reporting noted: Chaudhary said if Akhilesh’s renewed expression of devotion towards Lord Ram was driven by genuine remorse rather than political considerations, he should visit Ayodhya on Dec 6, the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition , and seek forgiveness for the killings of Ram devotees.
Deputy chief minister Brajesh Pathak said the SP’s “dreams are never going to be fulfilled” and accused the party of sheltering criminals during its rule and now invoking Ayodhya for political gain. He said those responsible were now talking about Sanatan Dharma and asked Yadav to take a dip in the Sarayu and apologise to the kar sevaks and their families before visiting the Ram temple. Earlier reporting noted: “Unless Akhilesh Yadav apologizes for the grave sin of the killing of Ram devotees, any political spectacle of visiting the Ram Temple cannot wash away the sins of the past,” Chaudhary said.
The BJP on Tuesday intensified its attack on the SP chief over his proposed visit.
