Govt should build taller Lord Ram statue than Statue of Unity: Azam Khan

RAMPUR: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan welcomed the idea of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to build a 151-metre tall Lord Ram statue in Ayodhya, on Saturday.

After the construction of the world's tallest statue 'Statue of Unity', dedicated to Sardar Vallabhai Patel, saints in Ayodhya have proposed to build a similar statue dedicated to Lord Ram.

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Addressing media, Azam Khan took a jib at CM Yogi Adityanath by propounding the idea to construct even a taller statue of Lord Ram than the recently-inaugurated 182-meter Sardar Vallabhai Patel's statue. The statue of Lord Ram is likely to be built near the Sarayu river.

He said, "Why did this thought not occur at the time of building the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel? Why would anybody oppose (the building of Lord Ram's statue)? I would want an even taller statue of Lord Ram in Rampur."

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Likely, the announcement in this regard will be made next week, when Yogi Adityanath will be in Ayodhya for the Diwali festivities.

The 182-metre tall 'statue of Unity' has got its place among world's tallest statues and occupies over 20,000 square metres land. Located on Sadhu-Bet Island, Gujarat, it is surrounded by a 12 square km artificial lake.

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The 'Statue of Unity' was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31, 2018. He was the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of independent India.