Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav made a vow to transform Ayodhya into the “global capital of Sanatan pilgrimage”, pledging transparent temple administration, world-class infrastructure and measures to revive the local economy ahead of his proposed visit to the Ram Temple on December 12. In a lengthy social media post, Yadav also accused the BJP of weakening the bond between Lord Ram and the Nishad community, promised to protect traditional boatmen and warned that those involved in alleged land and circle-rate scams in Ayodhya would face action if his party returned to power. “We are committed to restoring the honour and dignity of the city of Ayodhya,” Akhilesh said, alleging that the number of devotees and pilgrims visiting the temple town had been declining because of the hurt caused by the “theft of the Ram temple”. He said the decline had directly affected the local economy and promised to reverse the trend. “We will both improve and transform it. By introducing transparent administration at Ayodhya’s temple, we will also restore trust. By providing world-class infrastructure, we will make Ayodhya the ‘global capital of Sanatan pilgrimage’,” he said. The SP chief also promised measures to prevent the alleged mistreatment of poor people in the temple town, referring to an incident involving a woman and children collecting oil. “We will create an Ayodhya where no arrogant person can beat a poor woman or a boy or girl collecting oil and humiliate or oppress them,” he said. The SP chief further said that if voted to power, his government would provide oil and ghee through the public distribution system. “Once in government, we will also provide ‘oil and ghee’ in rations to meet the body’s nutritional needs,” he added. He further invoked the association between Lord Ram and Nishadraj, a central figure in the Ramayana tradition, and accused the BJP of attempting to undermine the relationship. “We will promote traditional boating in Ayodhya, so that traditional boatmen benefit from it and the deep bond between Lord Ram and Nishadraj can be restored,” he said. “The BJP wants to break this bond because BJP supremacists never want anyone to remember any scene of Lord Ram and the PDA community embracing one another,” Yadav added. PDA, or Pichhda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak (backward classes, Dalits and minorities), is the social coalition that the SP chief has been seeking to consolidate politically. Akhilesh also targeted alleged irregularities in land transactions and the circle rates in Ayodhya, promising scrutiny of land records and action against those responsible. “We will free Ayodhya from outside contractors and scrutinise land records. Outsiders are the ones who have looted Ayodhya,” he said. “No BJP leader or corrupt official involved in the massive circle-rate scam will escape. Their coffers, filled with the proceeds of Ayodhya’s plunder, will be emptied,” he added. The SP chief also called for legal action against people who insult religious deities and prominent figures, saying those who encourage such remarks should also be held accountable. “We will also create a system to ensure that no foul-mouthed person can insult the deities or great figures of any religion, let alone those of Lord Ram or Lord Krishna, or go about freely after doing so,” he said. Yadav further said that those encouraging people who make abusive remarks should also face consequences. “Those who encourage such wicked people who utter abusive words are also complicit in their sin, and they too will be punished appropriately for their involvement in a conspiracy to disrupt social harmony,” he said.
Akhilesh's post came amid a political exchange over his proposed December 12 visit to Ayodhya, where he is scheduled to visit the Ram Temple and Hanumangarhi along with his wife, Dimple Yadav. The visit, announced by former SP MLA Pawan Pandey, would be Akhilesh's first to the Ram Temple since its inauguration in January 2024. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday took an apparent swipe at the SP chief, saying those who had ordered firing on Ram devotees and subjected saints to lathicharge should apologise before visiting the temple. “Those who had neglected and insulted (Ayodhya), who had opened fire on Ram devotees and subjected saints to lathicharge, should certainly come to Ayodhya, but only after apologising. Let them apologise once to Ram devotees and once to the saints. Let them repent for their actions,” Adityanath said at the 10th edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya, according to PTI. Although he did not name any person or the party, the remarks came hours after the announcement of the proposed temple visit.
Recalling the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Adityanath criticised previous governments over the firing on kar sevaks and the alleged neglect of Ayodhya. “There was a time when even uttering the name of Shri Ram in Ayodhya invited lathis and bullets. Banning the very name of Ram in this city was a sin. Ayodhya was neglected and almost consigned to oblivion. Today, that very Ayodhya has come alive again, reminding us of the Treta Yuga,” he said.
