Ayodhya row must end now, all will respect SC decision: Yogi Adityanath

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, while addressing mediapersons Sunday, had questioned the CM’ statement, asking “how does he (Adityanath) know it’s a good news when the verdict was yet to come.”

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yaday had objected to his remarks, asking how does the chief minister know in advance what will apex court decide on Ayodhya issue.

Asked about his “very good news” remark, the chief minister said it merely pertained to a “grand deepotsav” to be held in Ayodhya on Deepawali which would be celebrated this year by lighting more than 5.50 lakh diyas on the banks of river Saryu.

“It was on Ayodhya regarding the Deepotsav event to be held there,” said Adityanath in reply to a question on his remarks made on Saturday.

While clarifying his “very good news awaits all” remark, the Chief Minister also accused the opposition of practising destructive politics on Ayodhya.

“The opposition practices destructive politics on the Ayodhya issue. The centuries old controversy on Ram temple must end now,” he said.

“In Ayodhya traditions were abolished during the tenure of previous governments. Now Ram Leela is staged by people from abroad in Ayodhya. Representatives from many countries participate in this event.

“Like the previous year, the state government is organizing a grand Deepotsav this year too. This year, the festival of Deepawali will be celebrated by lighting more than 5.50 lakh diyas on the banks of river Saryu,” the chief minister elaborated.

The chief minister also targeted the opposition for boycotting the state’s special assembly session, saying they “do not deserve to show” their faces in the House as they “insulted” Mahatama Gandhi by skipping the session. “By boycotting the special session of the assembly held on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, they have insulted Gandhiji,” he said, adding “the opposition does not deserve to show its face in the House.”

For skipping the special session, the CM also accused the opposition of being least concerned about issues of poverty, health, education and social welfare.