Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that some forces driven by religious extremism and appeasement politics had in the past turned Ayodhya into a hotbed of conflict and even attempts were made to spill blood in the sacred city but such designs failed.
Addressing a gathering during the Pran Pratishtha Dwadashi (second anniversary of consecration) of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the CM said, “Ayodhya witnessed several phases of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement since the country’s independence. The city will always remember three historic milestones. For the first time in independent India, a prime minister visited Ayodhya on August 5, 2020, to perform the bhoomi pujan of the Shri Ram temple. On January 22, 2024, the PM again visited Ayodhya Dham to complete the consecration of the grand idol of Ram Lalla. Then on November 25, 2025, he hoisted the saffron flag of Sanatan Dharma on the main spire of the temple.”
Referring to previous governments, Adityanath, who was accompanied by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who hoisted a flag at the Annapurna temple in the Ram Mandir complex, added, “Due to selfish motives, religious extremism and appeasement politics, some forces had turned Ayodhya into a centre of unrest and conflict. Despite Ayodhya being a city of peace, terror attacks occurred during their tenure. Ayodhya signifies a land untouched by war, a place whose valour, glory, and strength no enemy could ever overcome. But attempts were made to spill blood in the sacred city, but such designs failed. Ayodhya is protected by divine grace and the presence of Lord Hanuman at Hanuman Garhi.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, performs arti at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, in Ayodhya on Wednesday. (@myogiadityanathX/ANI Photo)
Referring to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act or MNREGA scheme (recently renamed as VG-RAM G), the Chief Minister said a major government employment scheme has been launched under the name “G Ram G,” one of the largest employment initiatives till date. Under this scheme, unemployed individuals seeking work in their village panchayats will be assured 125 days of employment within their own villages, he added.
The Ram temple movement, he claimed, gained a decisive momentum under the stewardship of the RSS, while Ashok Singhal (former VHP president) played a pivotal role in bringing the revered saints on a common platform.
“With this, the mark of slavery was erased and the way was cleared for the construction of a grand Ram Temple,” the CM added.
The CM also lauded Rajnath Singh for his active role in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement and said the consecration of Ram Lalla at the temple after nearly 500 years was a moment of pride and emotional fulfilment for the entire nation.
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Recalling past terror threats to Ayodhya, the chief minister said the city was now secure due to strong policing and divine grace. He referred to the foiling of a terror attack in 2005 and praised security forces for safeguarding the holy town.
Adityanath said Ayodhya had undergone a remarkable transformation, with over 45 crore devotees visiting the city in the past five years. He contrasted the current situation with earlier years, when basic amenities such as electricity, water, sanitation, roads and security were lacking and religious expressions often led to arrests.
He said Ayodhya has now emerged as India’s first solar city and is equipped with modern infrastructure, including an international airport, improved connectivity and enhanced civic facilities.
With PTI inputs
