Apologise to Ram devotees: CM Yogi's message as Akhilesh Yadav plans Ayodhya visit

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday took a swipe at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his proposed visit to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, saying "those who had fired on Ram devotees, subjected saints to lathicharge, and ignored" the holy city should apologise before visiting the shrine.His remarks came hours after a Samajwadi Party leader announced that Akhilesh and his wife, Dimple Yadav, would visit Ayodhya on December 12.Addressing the 10th edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya, Adityanath said those who had neglected and insulted the holy city, opened fire on Ram devotees and subjected saints to police action were welcome to visit, but only after seeking forgiveness."Those who had neglected and insulted (Ayodhya), who had opened fire on Ram devotees and subjected saints to lathicharge, should certainly come to Ayodhya, but only after apologising. Let them apologise once to Ram devotees and once to the saints. Let them repent for their actions," he said. Although he did not explicitly mention the Samajwadi Party or Akhilesh Yadav, Adityanath's remarks appeared to target the party over the handling of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement during its previous governments, particularly the police firing on kar sevaks in the 1990s when Mulayam Singh Yadav was CM.Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and other dignitaries were also present at the Deepotsav event.AKHILESH YADAV TO VISIT RAM TEMPLE ON DECEMBER 12 The political exchange came after former Samajwadi Party MLA Pawan Pandey announced that Akhilesh and his wife, Dimple Yadav, would visit the Ram Mandir and Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya on December 12."Both Akhilesh ji and his wife Dimple Yadav ji will visit Ram Temple and also visit the Hanumangarhi temple at Ayodhya on December 12," Pandey, who has again been named the party's candidate from Ayodhya, told reporters.He said Yadav would visit the city with his family, offer prayers at the temples, interact with saints and seek their blessings.The proposed visit will be Akhilesh's first to the Ram Temple since its grand consecration in January 2024. It comes as the BJP has repeatedly targeted the Samajwadi Party chief for not visiting the shrine, accusing him of following appeasement politics.The ex-CM, meanwhile, has raised allegations of "chanda chori (donation theft)" in connection with the Ram Temple and accused the BJP and Sangh organisations of wrongdoing.He had earlier maintained that he would visit the Ram Temple only after the completion of Kedareshwar Dham, a temple being built by the Samajwadi Party in Etawah.The December 12 visit is expected to add to the political discourse in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for early 2027.It is also being seen as part of the Samajwadi Party's attempt to counter the BJP's sustained focus on the Ram Temple and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.CM TAKES AIM AT CRITICS OF RAM TEMPLE MOVEMENTDuring his Deepotsav address, Adityanath also criticised political leaders who, according to him, had once opposed or neglected the Ram Janmabhoomi movement but were now seeking to associate themselves with religious gatherings."Those who used to leave the streets of Ayodhya soaked in blood are today unable even to recall their own past," he said.Taking an apparent dig at Akhilesh's recent participation in a religious discourse in Ayodhya, the Chief Minister questioned the conduct of some political leaders at such events."Sometimes I am surprised at these people. When they go to a religious discourse, they do not even know the decorum of a katha (religious narration). Is it a katha or a mushaira (Urdu poetry gathering)? Even this they do not know. We have our own decorum and sacred traditions for religious discourses. But because of their unruly disposition, they disregard the dignity of Lord Ram and the sanctity of the katha, and make an ill-advised attempt to turn it into a mushaira," he said.Without naming the Congress, Adityanath also targeted those who had challenged the existence of Lord Ram during the legal battle over the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute."Those who had assembled an army of lawyers in courts to deny the existence of Lord Ram have at least now acquired the wisdom to accept his existence. This is our ideological victory," he said.Explaining his remarks, he said Lord Ram embraced everyone, irrespective of their social background."Ram accepts everyone. But if someone comes in the guise of Maricha (the demon who disguised himself as a golden deer to lure Lord Ram away from Sita), he will not be able to escape Ram's arrows," he added.CM CALLS LORD RAM INDIA'S NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESSAdityanath also described Lord Ram as the embodiment of India's national consciousness, culture, values and self-respect."Look at the scene that has come alive before us today. This is the strength of Lord Ram's consciousness. It is, in fact, the consciousness of India. This is India's culture and its values. Lord Ram is the life force of the Indian nation and, if you may say so, Lord Ram is India's self-respect," he said.Referring to Ayodhya's place among the seven sacred cities, or Saptapuris, in Hindu scriptures, the CM said the city had faced several challenges over the centuries.However, Ram devotees, saints, Naga ascetics, Nihang Sikhs and people from different sections of society resisted them, he said.Recalling the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and what he described as 500 years of foreign rule, Adityanath said there was a time when people doubted whether Ram Lalla would ever be reinstated at his birthplace."Today, Ayodhya is once again regaining the glory for which kar sevaks sacrificed their lives and revered saints struggled. The long movement for the Ram Janmabhoomi, under the leadership of Ashok Singhal and the guidance of revered saints, has culminated in Ayodhya, in accordance with the aspirations of its people, under the guidance and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said."There was a time when even uttering the name of Shri Ram in Ayodhya invited lathis and bullets. Banning the very name of Ram in this city was a sin. Ayodhya was neglected and almost consigned to oblivion. Today, that very Ayodhya has come alive again, reminding us of the Treta Yuga," he added.- Ends(With agency inputs)