The world awaits the Ram Temple consecration ceremony on January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Saturday in Ayodhya, adding that no stone will be left unturned to develop the holy place.
“The world is waiting for 22nd January. I, too, am eagerly waiting the day of Pran Pratishtha at the Ram Mandir,” he said while addressing a public meeting near Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya.
Describing Ayodhya as a heritage city, Mr. Modi said that the Viksit Bharat (Developed India) campaign is getting new energy from the holy city.
“Our heritage inspires us. Shows us the right path,” he said. “Present-day India is progressing by the combination of heritage and modernity. There was a time when Ram Lalla (lord Ram) resided in a tent in Ayodhya. Today, not only has Ram Lalla found a permanent abode but also four crore citizens of the country have been provided with homes,” he added.
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Given the security arrangements that would be in place, the Prime Minister requested people to visit the temple city only after the consecration ceremony. “We waited for more than 500 years, wait for some more time”, he said, while pushing for the need to make Ayodhya the cleanest city in the country.
He further urged people to launch a cleanliness drive across temples and pilgrimage sites in India from January 14 to January 22. “There should be no litter around any of our temples or pilgrimage sites when lord Ram arrives,” he added.
He suggested that all Indians should light the Shri Ram Jyoti on the day of the consecration. “This historical moment has very fortunately come into the lives of all of us. We have to take a new resolution for the country and fill it with new energy”, he said.
Development projects
The Prime Minister, who was on a one-day visit to Ayodhya, inaugurated/laid the foundation stone for 46 projects worth roughly ₹15,700 crore. This included the inauguration of the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport and the revamped Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station.
Mr. Modi also flagged off six new Vande Bharat trains: Amritsar-Delhi Junction Vande Bharat Express, Coimbatore-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express, Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Vande Bharat Express, Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express and Jalna-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express; and two Amrit Bharat trains: the Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express and Malda Town-Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (Bengaluru) Amrit Bharat Express.
At the revamped railway station, he interacted with children and railway employees, warmly greeting them with handshakes.
The other major development projects inaugurated by Mr. Modi include capacity upgradation of Amethi Refinery, doubling of four sections under the Jaunpur-Ayodhya-Barabanki rail line project, doubling and electrification of the Malhaur-Daliganj railway section, Ram Path (from Sahadatganj to Naya Ghat), Bhakti Path (from Ayodhya main road to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi via Hanuman Garhi) and Dharma Path (from NH-27 to Naya Ghat Old Bridge).
While returning to the airport, the Prime Minister visited Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, where an impressive veena measuring 40 feet and weighing 14 tonnes has been installed. He greeted people of Ayodhya from the crossroad and sought detailed information about the veena from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
‘Thanks to the PM’
Addressing the public gathering, Mr. Adityanath said the Ram Temple is set to host the divine presence of lord Ram, a momentous occasion from the hands of the Prime Minister. “550-year-long anticipation is on the verge of fulfilment,” he said and expressed gratitude to Mr. Modi for the development projects dedicated to both Uttar Pradesh and Ayodhya. “Once a place people hesitated even to mention, Ayodhya emerged with a new identity, thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji,” he added.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Deputy Chief Ministers Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya, Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jyotiraditya Scindia and V.K. Singh were present for Mr. Modi’s visit.
