Ayodhya tussle reaches Lko; BJP MLA to sound govt on local issues
LUCKNOW : The tussle in Ayodhya between the local administration and the Hanuman Garhi priest reached the state capital on Saturday as priest Raju Das met chief minister and apprised him about the problems being faced by locals.
Ayodhya (Sadar) BJP MLA Ved Prakash Gupta will take up the issue of time-bound completion of projects in the temple town and problems being faced by locals due to VIP movements, with the state government.
According to BJP leaders, Das was in Lucknow on Saturday to apprise chief minister Yogi Adityanath about problems being faced by locals and indifferent attitude of the Ayodhya administration. Das has always been vocal on issues related to Ayodhya.
The issue got further traction when Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav posted on X on Saturday: “UP BJP must not take revenge of its defeat from sadhus of Ayodhya. The review of the security of the gentle (seers) must be carried out and security must be provided to them.”
The SP chief was referring to the removal of a police gunner provided to Raju Das after his verbal duel with Ayodhya DM Nitish Kumar on Thursday night.
Raju Das and district magistrate of Ayodhya, Nitish Kumar, had a verbal duel in front of ministers Surya Pratap Shahi and Jaiveer Singh at the Saryu
Atithi Bhawan in Ayodhya late on Thursday night.
After the incident, a police gunner, who was deployed in the security of Raju Das, was removed from security.
Das and former minister Swami Prasad Maurya had clashed at Taj Hotel on February 17, 2023, over the latter’s controversial statement on Ramcharitmanas.
Locals in Ayodhya often complain about too many restrictions imposed by the police on vehicular movement during VIP movements.
After the opening of the Ram Mandir on January 22 this year, VIP movement has increased in Ayodhya as politicians and celebrities from across the country are coming to temple town to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla.
“All problems of locals will be taken up with the state government including restrictions on vehicular movement during VIP movements,” said Ved Prakash Gupta.
“Problems of traders have been resolved. Not only has the cost of shops been cut down by 30% but the remaining amount will be payable in interest-free installments over 20 years,” added Gupta.
However, this decision came in the backdrop of the BJP facing its most humiliating defeat in the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election. Samajwadi Party candidate Awadesh Pradesh defeated two-time sitting MP of the BJP Lallu Singh.