With elections in Uttar Pradesh round the corner, can the calls for construction of the Ram mandir at Ayodhya be far behindIJ
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi chanted “Jai Sri Ram” during the Dussehra festivities in lucknow, the mad race for Hindu votes has begun, with leaders of all hues now talking about Ayodhya.
Eyeing the Hindu vote pie, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announced funds for modernisation of the International Ram leela Complex in Ayodhya. The announcement by Akhilesh was made after the Modi Government announced `225 crore for the Ramayana circuit — of which `151 crore is being earmarked for Ayodhya.
Significantly, on Tuesday, Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma visited Ayodhya to “see the progress” of the Ramayana circuit, which the Union Government wants to develop as a tourist destination.
“My visit to Ayodhya has nothing to do with UP Assembly elections. I am visiting here as the Tourism Minister. This is part of the Government’s effort to improve tourism in Ayodhya and all over the country,” he said, but the statement has sent signals loud and clear.
Targeting the Opposition for raking up the timing of his Ayodhya visit, the Union Minister said, “It is our culture to take blessings from our sants and sadhus. We are trying to serve lord Ram by making a museum as everyone does not get such an opportunity.” Sharma added that he has also sought advice from chairman of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas Mahant Nritya Gopal Das on the selection of the site for the museum.
However, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das added a new flavour to this controversy by saying in Ayodhya on Tuesday that no one can stop the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya now.
“Modi aa gaye … samajh lo mandir ban gaya. (Modi is in power now. Consider the temple made),” he said.
Earlier, Sharma worshipped at the makeshift temple of Ramlalla at the dispute site and stayed there for around 20 minutes before visiting Hanumangarhi and meeting the sants and sadhus. Sharma also visited the sites where the proposed museum could be constructed. One spot is on the banks of Saryu river and the second one is a 28 acre plot seven km away from Ayodhya.
“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 the international map,” he said while addressing a meeting at Karsevak Puram.
The pre-poll call for construction of the Ram temple was first taken up by the Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy who had said in Allahabad that the temple would be constructed soon and the court could give its verdict.
This was followed by another BJP Rajya Sabha member and firebrand leader Vinay Katiyar who demanded construction of the Ram temple at the earliest in Ayodhya and suggested that if required legislation should be brought in the Parliament regarding this.
“It’s not only Swami who is talking about Ram temple, every Ram devotee wants a grand Ram temple at the earliest,” Katiyar had said on Monday.
The Opposition sees a design in the sudden cacophony over the temple construction issue. BSP chief Mayawati said on Monday and Tuesday that the tacit relationship between Samajwadi Party and the BJP has been exposed.
“The BJP Government sanctions funds for the Ram leela Complex and the Samajwadi Party Government in UP provides land. This is done with a design to raise communal temperature during the elections,” the BSP chief said.
Congress spokesman Amarnath Agarwal said that Ram mandir was always on the political agenda of the BJP. “It brings it out of the closet before every election to gain political mileage. The fact is, the BJP has been exposed and this time it will not work,” he said.