Staying away from controversy Union Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said that the government was committed to bring Ayodha on the international tourism map by making it religious capital of the country. “I am grateful to have darshan of Ramlalla and Saryu but Prime Minister Narendra Modi will do the real service to lord Ram by bringing this pious city on international map,” he said while addressing a meeting at karsevekpuram here during his day long visit to Ayodhya on Tuesday.
He said that every person living in Ayodhya is saint and the place would be made an international tourist centre very soon. Dr Sharma was in Ayodhya to select the site for the Ramayan museum to be constructed by the Union tourism ministry. He said after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of the country the image of India has gown up.” Earlier China used to treat us shabbily but now Chinese PM shows respect to Modi,” Dr Sharma said. Earlier, the Union minister worshipped at the makeshift temple of Ramlalla at the dispute site and stayed there for around 20 minutes. He also visited Hanumangarhi. He also met the saints and sadhus and sought their blessings.
The Minister, who was here to set the ball rolling for an international standard Ramayan museum, said through this museum, the message of lord Ram would be sent across the globe. “The Ramayan Museum will have a 20 minute programme in which the entire life of lord Ram and his teachings would be shown to the public,” he told reporters here after meeting Ram Janambhoomi Nyas chairman Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.
Questioning the Opposition for raking up his Ayodhya visit, the Union Minister said,” it is our culture to take blessings from our saints and sadhus. We are trying to serve lord Ram by making a museum as everyone do not get such opportunity,” he said, while adding that he has also sought advise from Mahant Nritya Gopal Das on the selection of the place for the museum.
“My visit to Ayodhya has nothing to do with UP Assembly elections. I am visiting there as a Tourism Minister. This is part of government’s effort to improve tourism in Ayodhya and all over the country,” said Dr Sharma.
Before the darshan of Ramlalla, Dr Sharma visited the spots where the musuem would be constructed. One spot is on the banks of Saryu river and the second one is of 28 acres but, it is seven km away from Ayodhya.
The proposed museum has a Rs150-crore budget and there is a plan to link it with other sites, including in Nepal and Sri lanka.