Yogi Adityanath tells Akhilesh Yadav to apologise before visiting Ayodhya
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said the Samajwadi Party chief must repent for past actions against Ram devotees and saints.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav should apologise to Ram devotees and saints before visiting the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. According to India Today, the remarks follow the announcement that Akhilesh Yadav and his wife, Dimple Yadav, will visit the temple and Hanumangarhi on December 12.
Speaking at the AajTak Panchayat, Adityanath referred to the 1990 police firing on kar sevaks. He said those who had neglected Ayodhya, opened fire on devotees, and subjected saints to lathicharge should come to the city only after apologising and repenting for their actions.
The Chief Minister also questioned the conduct of certain political leaders at religious gatherings. He remarked that some people do not understand the decorum of a katha, asking if they treat it like a mushaira.
Adityanath described Ayodhya as a city of faith rather than a subject of politics. He noted that the city's transformation resulted from nearly 500 years of struggle and the sacrifices of saints and kar sevaks.
The Chief Minister credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP's double-engine government for developing Ayodhya and restoring its cultural significance. He added that respecting the sentiments of devotees and developing the city alongside revered saints are government priorities.