The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister made the remarks following the announcement that Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav will visit the Ram temple.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Saturday that those who fired on Ram devotees and subjected saints to lathicharge should only visit the Ram temple after apologising to them. According to reports from Rediff, ThePrint and Business Standard, the remarks were made while addressing the 10th edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya.
The Chief Minister's comments came hours after it was announced that Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav would visit the Ram temple in Ayodhya on December 12. While Adityanath did not name Yadav or the SP, he appeared to refer to Yadav's recent participation in a religious discourse in the city.
Adityanath stated that those who had neglected and insulted Ayodhya should repent for their actions. He said, "Let them apologise once to Ram devotees and once to the saints."
The Chief Minister also criticised the conduct of certain political leaders at religious gatherings. He questioned whether they understood the decorum of a katha, or religious narration, asking if they treated it like a mushaira, or Urdu poetry gathering.
Addressing the crowd, Adityanath said that Lord Ram represents India's national consciousness, culture, values and self-respect. He noted that Ayodhya is regaining the glory for which kar sevaks sacrificed their lives.
Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel were also present at the event. Adityanath also paid tributes to former Vishva Hindu Parishad chief Ashok Singhal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
