Sant Samaj paid for the Ayodhya programme, says Yogi. Really?

After the grand `deepotasava’ programme in Ayodhya on Oct 18, the question now is who would foot the bill for the mega event. The invitations for the programme were sent out by the state government. Meticulous planning had gone into holding this event. The district officials held a series of meetings to ensure that every programme – starting from ‘Ram ki jhanki’ in the afternoon to the lighting of diyas (earthen lamps) on the ghat of Saryu in the evening – were held as planned but Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave credit to `Sant Samaj’ for organizing this programme.

“Sant Samaj paid for the programme that was organized in Ayodhya on Oct 18. The government has not spent a penny from its kitty,” Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath replied, when asked who had paid for the mega show in Ayodhya.

Critics of the Yogi government splurging the taxpayer money on a religious event include the opposition parties among many others. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) said that the government couldn’t associate itself with religious projects such as erecting a statue of Hindu deity Rama and organising grand religious events in a secular country that India is.

After outcry over government’s actions, Yogi said that it was the sadhus of Ayodhya who had been organising this function every year, much like they did this year.

“My government has not started a new tradition. My government only supported it. Ayodhya is part of my belief and faith. As a Chief Minister, it is my responsibility to ensure the development of Uttar Pradesh, and Ayodhya is part of Uttar Pradesh,” Yogi said.

Questions were raised after it came to light that a whopping ₹166 crore had been spent on organising this function. Congress spokesperson Amarnath Agarwal questioned the need to hire models for the event from other states. “Doesn’t UP have enough talent of its own that the Yogi government was forced to hire models from Mumbai to act as Ram, Sita and Lakshman?” he asked.

Congress also raised questions on artists from Indonesia, Thailand and Sri Lanka acting in the Ram Leela. “Who has paid for them?” the Congress spokesperson asked.

Principal secretary (Tourism) Awanish Kumar Awasthi said that ₹133 crore had been spent on building infrastructure in Ayodhya, including construction of parks, renovation of roads and re-building sewerage system of Ayodhya. “As per the desire of CM Sir, we are planning to build infrastructure on par with global standards in Ayodhya,” he said.

Defending the Yogi government, BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak said that the CM was thinking about the development of Ayodhya.

“There is negativity associated with this holy city and this should end. For the first time, a special grant has been sanctioned for development of Ayodhya and the Opposition could not digest it. If tourists start coming to Ayodhya, it will benefit everyone. If infrastructure is improved, it will benefit everyone. Why raise questions about Ayodhya then,” he asked.