Will build grand statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya soon, confirms Yogi Adityanath

PTI photo

LUCKNOW: Day after renaming Faizabad district as Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath confirmed on Wednesday a grand statue of Lord Ram will soon be built in Ayodhya.

“Sri Ram ki ek darshaniya murti sthapit ho,bhumi ke anusar uske bare mein charcha karenge. Pujaniya murti mandir mein hogi, lekin ek darshaniya murti jo yahan ki pehchan ban sake. Hum wo sari vyavasthaein karenge jisse astha ka samman bhi ho aur Ayodhya ki pehchan ban sake (The establishment of Sri Ram's visiting statue will be discussed as per land requirements. The statue will be placed in the temple, but it will be the identity of Ayodhya. We'll arrange all the nesseccities to make the statue the pride of Ayodhya),” said the chief minister.

Speaking to media persons, Adityanath claimed that the Congress party and its chief Rahul Gandhi should clarify their position on Ram Mandir. “Even Rajiv Gandhi's intentions (about Ram Mandir) were not very clear,” he added.

Adityanath informed that the land for the statue has already been identified. 

Adityanath announced that Faizabad district will henceforth be known as Ayodhya during Deeptosav festivities on Tuesday.

"Ayodhya is a symbol of our 'aan, baan aur shaan' (honour, pride and prestige)" he said in the pilgrim town, about 120 km from state capital Lucknow.

"Nobody can do injustice to Ayodhya," he said, adding that the holy city is identified by Lord Ram.

Adityanath was speaking on the occasion of "Deepotsav" on Diwali eve.

He also announced setting up of a new airport in Ayodhya, named after Lord Ram, and a medical college in the name of King Dashrath, father of Lord Ram, in the district.

Several projects, including redevelopment and beautification of 'Ram Ki Paidi' and stoppage of sewage disposal in Saryu river, were launched at the event.