Ram Nagari Set for Political Showdown. BJP Seeks Akhilesh’s Apology Over Kar Sevak Firing

Ram Nagari, the city of Ayodhya, saw a grand display of faith and tradition as the banks of the Saryu were lit up with over 30 lakh earthen lamps on Saturday at 56 ghats, along with a spectacular display of laser and drone show depicting the life journey of Lord Ram. But in less than 12 hours, Ayodhya has bounced back on the political stage with challenges, counter challenges and sharp criticism of Chief Minister of UP Yogi Adityanath.

In his address in Ayodhya minutes before the lamps were lit, the chief minister criticised the former chief minister and Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav, for not visiting the Ram Temple. He also demanded an apology from him for firing on the Karsevaks during the regime of the Samajwadi Party.

Reacting to this, SP leader Pawan Pandey said on Saturday that Akhilesh does not need anyone’s permission to go to Ayodhya. He said the SP chief would be visiting the Ram temple on December 12. If this happens, it would be the first visit of the former chief minister to the Ram Temple since its inauguration in January 2024.

The BJP, while welcoming the decision, said that the announcement has come from a party leader, not from Akhilesh. However, if good sense has prevailed upon him, and if he would really visit the Ram Temple, it would be a welcome move. The party spokesperson and MP Sudanshu Trivedi said that he should apologise to Lord Ram and the people for showering bullets on the Karsevaks during the rule of the Samajwadi Party in UP and keeping Lord Ram under lock and key.

Other BJP leaders felt that this was perhaps an afterthought of Akhilesh, as he must have felt that all their narratives were not working in winning the Hindu votes and, as such, he was now contemplating visiting the temple. Whatever it may be, if he visits it would be a welcome move.

On the other hand, the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a TV interview, said that it is a fact that Akhilesh Yadav was working hard in view of the upcoming Assembly elections, but the result would be 80-20. That is, 80% of people will stand by the BJP and 20% with the combined opposition led by SP. He said that from a backwards state, UP had now become a performing state. It had witnessed tremendous growth in terms of industrial growth. Over the last nine years, the state has attracted investment commitments of over Rs 50 lakh crore, and most of them have been grounded. More are in the advanced stage of finalisation. This has helped in the growth of employment opportunities for the youth, and a few more lakhs of jobs will soon be added, he said.

He said in terms of law and order, the state had become role model for other states.

In the meantime, Yogi on Sunday extended Diwali greetings to people in Ayodhya, distributed fruits and sweets among sanitation workers, boatmen and underprivileged families, and called for a clean, beautiful, and well-organised city while invoking the ideals of Lord Shri Ram.

Addressing people during the celebrations, CM Yogi urged them to take a collective resolution to protect Ayodhya’s religious identity, dignity and cultural heritage.

“We have to take only one resolution. That resolution has to be that in the coming times; there should be no evil eye on our Ayodhya. Our resolution should be against the loot of Ayodhya's wealth, defame Ayodhya again; there should not be any evil eye on our Ayodhya,” he said.

The Chief Minister also referred to the city’s past, asserting that restrictions and violence against devotees would no longer be tolerated.

“Now, in Ayodhya, bullets will not be fired on Ram devotees. Now, in Ayodhya, no one can use a stick to say 'Jai Shri Ram'. Now, in Ayodhya, no one will be able to put a ban on 5-kosi, 14-kosi and 84-kosi circumambulations,” CM Yogi said.

Emphasising the need to maintain Ayodhya’s religious and cultural significance, he said the city should reflect cleanliness, beauty, proper organisation and dignity.

“This should be the symbol of our resolution. Ayodhya should be clean, beautiful, well-organised and dignified. Ayodhya is Lord Ram’s Ayodhya. We have to organise Ayodhya in the same way and move forward,” he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gowri V

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A Journey of Three Decades Time passes faster than we realise. What feels like a journey that began only yesterday has today grown into more than three decades of a meaningful and fulfilling life devoted to education, journalism, and the empowerment of young minds. My professional journey began with journalism training in New Delhi in 1979. I went on to work as an independent journalist, drawing on my fluency in both English and Telugu. Over the years, I have edited and worked on Telugu articles in both languages, an experience that strengthened my command of language and sharpened my understanding of society, people, and contemporary issues. Yet, my principal profession and enduring passion have always been teaching. My decision to become a teacher was not merely a career choice—it was a calling. Teaching offered me the rare privilege of inspiring young minds, guiding them through their formative years, and making a lasting difference in their lives. I found immense satisfaction in simplifying complex concepts, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independent thought, and building confidence among students. Every moment in the classroom—every question, every moment of discovery, and every spark of understanding—reminded me why I had chosen this path: to empower young people through knowledge, values, and essential life skills. My teaching career began at the grassroots level as a Montessori teacher and gradually progressed to the position of Vice Principal. I had the opportunity to work in reputed educational institutions, including Dilsukhnagar Public School in Hyderabad, where I shouldered both teaching and administrative responsibilities. Although I have always considered myself, at heart, a teacher, my administrative experience enabled me to understand and contribute to the education system from a much broader perspective. For my students, I have always tried to be an approachable and dependable presence—someone they could turn to not only for academic support, but also for guidance and emotional encouragement. At the same time, I developed a reputation as a firm disciplinarian who believed that integrity, fairness, responsibility, and discipline were fundamental to education. I was also consistently appreciated for maintaining clear communication with parents and staff and for ensuring that examinations and other academic processes were conducted with transparency, fairness, and efficiency. As my career progressed, however, I began to feel that academic education alone was not enough. This realization led me to work more closely with students following the SSC and CBSE curricula, while consciously bringing life-skills education into my teaching. I came to understand that education becomes truly meaningful when it prepares children not merely to pass examinations, but to face life. Teaching emotional resilience, self-reliance, social awareness, communication, decision-making, and other practical life skills often had a deeper and more lasting impact than academic achievement alone. I saw how these skills could help students navigate challenges with greater confidence, maturity, and responsibility. My academic background provided a strong foundation for this approach. My degree in Psychology from the University of Madras helped me develop a deeper understanding of young people's minds, their emotional needs, and the influence of their family and social environments. My M.A. in Telugu with First Class from Osmania University.

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