Lucknow, June 28 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav over his recent remarks on Ayodhya, accusing the opposition leader and his party of having a history of opposing Hindu religious traditions and questioning their commitment to the development of the temple town.

The Chief Minister’s comments came a day after Akhilesh Yadav pledged that, if voted to power, his party would develop Ayodhya into a “peerless and inimitable sacred city.”

In a post on X on Saturday, the SP president had said, “With devotion and integrity, we take this pledge that, by forming a new government, we shall develop ‘Ayodhya’ into a peerless and inimitable sacred city, where devotees from across the world will experience the unparalleled essence of true spirituality.”

Responding to the statement while addressing a public gathering in Hathras during the inauguration and foundation stone-laying ceremony of 143 development projects worth Rs 548 crore, CM Yogi questioned the Samajwadi Party’s record when it was in power and asserted that Ayodhya has regained global prominence under the BJP government.

“I am surprised; I was reading a statement by Samajwadi Party President Shri Akhilesh Yadav ji yesterday. He was saying that when his government comes to power, it will make Ayodhya a religious city. What religious city will you make? You should look at your own history. Your own people fired bullets at Ram devotees. The Samajwadi Party government ordered firing on them,” the Chief Minister said.

Referring to the transformation of Ayodhya in recent years, he credited the efforts of Ram devotees and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for restoring the city’s religious and cultural identity.

“Today, when Ayodhya, through the hard work and efforts of Ram devotees and under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi ji, is now reminding us of the ‘Treta Yuga’, you are also tempted by the idea,” he said.

Continuing his criticism, CM Yogi alleged that the previous Samajwadi Party government had taken steps that were against Hindu religious practices. He claimed that celebrations of Krishna Janmashtami had been stopped in police stations and jails during the SP regime and also accused the party of imposing restrictions on the Kanwar Yatra.

Highlighting the BJP government’s initiatives in the field of religious infrastructure, the Chief Minister referred to the renovation of temples in Hathras and contrasted it with the policies of the previous government.

“Today, when our representatives were saying that more than 22 temples were beautified in Hathras, was this possible during the time of the Samajwadi Party? It was not possible during their time because, at that time, this money used to go towards the boundary walls of graveyards, and that is what we have diverted towards temples,” he said.

The Chief Minister maintained that Ayodhya’s religious character had been further strengthened under the current government and urged opposition leaders to witness the changes for themselves.

He said they should “have a glimpse of Ramlala once,” referring to the child deity enshrined at the Ram Temple complex in Ayodhya.

Expanding his remarks to other prominent pilgrimage centres, CM Yogi also referred to Mathura and Vrindavan, saying that if the opposition genuinely wished to project itself as religious, it should openly support the honouring of Lord Krishna’s birthplace.

“Let’s talk about Mathura. If you are really trying to call yourself religious, speak openly about Mathura Vrindavan and the birthplace of Shri Krishna. The birthplace of Shri Krishna should also be honoured,” he said.

The Chief Minister added that his government was consistently working to improve infrastructure and facilities for pilgrims visiting major religious destinations such as Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi (Varanasi), with the aim of promoting both spiritual tourism and regional development.

Taking another swipe at the opposition, CM Yogi alleged that the Samajwadi Party lacked a constructive development agenda and accused it of engaging in appeasement politics.

“You don’t have any agenda other than kneeling down in front of the Mullahs and Maulvis. Don’t do the work of sprinkling dust on development,” he added.

–IANS

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