Sunday, 27 June 2021 | PNS | New Delhi
Next generation should feel desire to visit Ayodhya at least once in lifetime: Modi
With Ram temple construction set to be major issue in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls next year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reviewed the “future vision” of Ayodhya’s development in a virtual meeting with UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The BJP has set the Ram temple construction and the “new development agenda” for the Ayodhya City at the centre of its poll strategy for UP which may also have cross-country appeal among millions.
The PM said, “Ayodhya should manifest the finest of our traditions and the best of our developmental transformations.”
Yogi presented a plan for Ayodhya which included modernisation, roads, expressway way, railway station, international airport and several other pending projects.
Around 500 acre has been approved for the new Ayodhya city. Speaking at the virtual meeting, Modi described Ayodhya as a city that is etched in the cultural consciousness of every Indian, Government sources quoted him as saying.
Modi said Ayodhya is spiritual and sublime and that the human ethos of the city must be matched with futuristic infrastructure, which is beneficial for everyone, including tourists and pilgrims, according to the sources. The coming generations should feel the desire to visit Ayodhya at least once in their lifetime, Modi understood to have said.
The PM said the way Lord Ram had the ability to bring people together, the development works of Ayodhya should be guided by a spirit of healthy public participation, especially by the youth.
He pointed that developmental works in Ayodhya will continue in the foreseeable future.
The PM said, “It is our collective endeavour to celebrate the identity of Ayodhya and keep its cultural vibrancy alive through innovative ways.”
He called for skills of talented youth to be leveraged in this development: Govt sources from Ayodhya Development plan meet.
Modi, while participating in “Bhoomi pujan” at the Ram Janmbhoomi site on August 5, last year, had described temple construction as part of national integration “nar ko narayan se jodne ka kamm hain”, he had said.
Modi had also said, “After the construction of the Ram temple the total economic face of Ayodhya will transform and the whole world would come here for the darshan of Lord Ram.”
Adityanath had in February, this year, said the State Government’s proposal for an international airport in Ayodhya has been approved by the Centre.
“UP Government’s proposal for an international airport in Ayodhya has been approved by the Centre. About Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated to the district administration by the State Government. The Central Government has disbursed Rs 250 crore,” the Chief Minister had said.
On tourism and pilgrimage in Ayodhya, he had said, “Ayodhya is popular for Ramjanmabhoomi. Work in Ayodhya is going on for the construction of Lord Ram temple. Lakhs of devotees and pilgrims visit Ayodhya. The city offers an amalgamation of spirituality and tourism and both the central and state Governments are working for its development.”
In February 2020, the PM had announced the constitution of Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, to oversee the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Commenting on the review of Ayodhya development plan, the head priest of the makeshift Ram temple Acharya Satyendra Das said, “It is a good thing. Until PM and CM of Uttar Pradesh will not associate with it, the development works will not be seen at the ground.”
Major controversies recently bogged down the Ram temple construction plan as Opposition Samajwadi Party and Aam Adami Party charged multi-crore land grab or scam against the trust which were denied by the latter.
The Ram temple is being built in about two-and-a-half acres and a wall will be built around it, which is called “parkota”. The temple, according to the general secretary of Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Champat Rai will be ready in three-year time.
