Yogi dreams of Ram Rajya, says UP should become tourism hub

Ayodhya: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that he dreams of Ram Rajya as it is the only way towards development.

"We are ready to electrify Ayodhya 24x7. This is Ram Rajya, where there is no discrimination. It was Ravan Rajya which would discriminate on the basis of caste or background," said Yogi Adityanath while taking part in Diwali celebrations here.

Stressing on tourism, UP CM said that he wants the state to be the hub of tourism.

"Projects worth Rs 133 cr related to tourism has been inaugurated today," he said.

Yogi Adityanath said that Ayodhya gave Diwali to the world and taught humanity to the entire world.

Launching scathing attack on the opposition, UP CM said that, "there are people in this country who will oppose every good initiative. If I come to Ayodhya, they will question that. If I don't come to Ayodhya, they will say I am scared of coming here."

Opposition parties have alleged the BJP is trying to drum up support for its communal politics.

"This is all being done with an eye on the Gujarat elections and the BJP leaders are trying to deflect the attention from its failure in UP," a senior BSP leader said.

Samajwadi Party party said the past governments have been promoting Ayodhya as a tourist destination and the Adityanath government's mega event was "merely to whitewash its failures".

Senior Congress leader Alok Sharma said the event was being held with an eye on the Gujarat elections. "I hope the BJP also finds equal focus for the innocent infants who died in Gorakhpur due to shortage of oxygen," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has trashed the opposition charges as baseless.

What else Yogi Adityanath said?

• We will work towards the development of UP and will have to value our heritage.
• We are not here to divert issues; we are here for the development of Ayodhya.
• Every family having a roof over their heads, employment, power connection and LPG in their kitchen that has been provided by Prime Minister -- is Ram Rajya.
• Your sentiments are being honoured one by one, all the work is being done. You will have to join in that ambition. If you have power, you can do anything. The power will be that of development...Rest assured, your dream of Ram Rajya will be realised.
• We want to give an India that is free of terrorism and Naxalism, where there is no discrimination in the name of caste, creed, language or region and there is no appeasement.

The Chief Minister along with his entire cabinet and Governor Ram Naik and Union MoS for Tourism K.J. Alphons, took part on the first day of the grand Deepotsav celebrations here.

Chants of "Jai Shri Ram" echoed on the banks of the Saryu river as actors portraying the roles of Lord Rama and Sita arrived here on a chopper decked up to resemble the mythological Pushpak Viman - in a recreation of Lord Rama's return from 14 years of exile to Ayodhya - as part of a grand 'Deepotsav' celebration.

Tonnes of flower petals were showered as the actors portraying the characters from the Ramayana arrived at the venue of the Ram Lila.

As part of the Deepotsav, a record 1.73 lakh diyas or earthen lamps are lighted on the banks of the Saryu.

The event is being hosted by the Tourism Department of the Uttar Pradesh government.