UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the same forces that had opposed the Ram temple movement were now trying to take political mileage from it.
Ahead of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s proposed visit to Ram temple in Ayodhya, chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday sought an apology from those who opened fire at karsevaks in 1990. Without addressing Yadav directly, Adityanath demanded that an apology be tendered to ‘Ram Bhakts’ before visiting Ayodhya.
The chief minister was referring to the firing that took place on October 30 and November 2 in 1990, during the government of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. The SP has maintained that the then government had to act to maintain law and order.
Akhilesh Yadav is set to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya with his family on December 12. This will be his first visit to the temple since its consecration in January 2024.
Taking aim at Yadav, Adityanath said, “Tender an apology to Ram Bhakts first for firing on karsevaks before coming to Ayodhya.” The chief minister was addressing seers at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya at the 10th edition of Deepotsav.
“Those who got bullets fired on karsevaks, who shed the blood of Ram Bhakts on the streets of Ayodhya, are coming here to seek blessings. First, they should apologise to the karsevaks, to the seers, and to the people of Ayodhya,” the chief minister said.
Adityanath also said Ayodhya does not belong to any one party or family. “Ayodhya is the land of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram. Those who insulted the sentiments of crores of Ram Bhakts cannot wash away their sins merely by visiting the temple,” he said.
The chief minister said the same forces that had opposed the Ram temple movement were now trying to take political mileage from the Ram temple. “Earlier, they used to say Ram did not exist. Today they are coming to Ayodhya. This is the victory of the faith of the people,” he said.
