Ayodhya: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath performs ‘arti’ of the aristises dressed as Lord Ram, Sita and Laxman after their arrival for the Deepotsav, grand Diwali celebrations, at Ram Katha Park in Ayodhya. (Source: PTI)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced that Faizabad district will now be known as Ayodhya, while speaking at ‘Deepotsav’, a special event hosted on Diwali eve in the pilgrim town of Ayodhya. The move came just after three weeks, the BJP-led government changed the name of Allahabad to Prayagraj. Earlier, the Yogi government had also changed the name of Mughalsarai Junction to Pt Deen Dhayal Upadhyay junction.
“Ayodhya is a symbol of our ‘aan, baan aur shaan’ (honour, pride and prestige)” the chief minister said while making the announcement. Additionally, CM Adityanath announced setting up of a medical college in the name of King Dashrath, father of Lord Ram, in the district and an airport which will be named after Ram. “Nobody can do injustice to Ayodhya,” he said during his speech where earlier it was expected that the CM would announce a Ram statute project.
The announcement got everyone talking on social media, with #Faizabad dominating India trends on Twitter. While some dubbed it as a ‘timely Diwali gifts’ and welcomed the moved, most remained confused and miffed. While a few users asked why the state government was on a name-changing spree, others asked how would it bring in development. Sample these:
Just so our govts know, there’s ‘ali’ in Diwali…! Kitne naam badloge? #Faizabad #Ayodhya
— Madhuri Khosla (@MadhuriKhosla) November 6, 2018
The name changing spree continues. I wonder why???!!!!! #Faizabad #Ayodhya pic.twitter.com/CCn8dMhxSJ
— Anvay Singh (@AnvaySingh) November 6, 2018
Would all the freedom fighters like Maulana Azad, Ali Brothers and Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan’s names be changed too? #Faizabad
— TheAgeOfBananas (@iScrew) November 6, 2018
How intelligently BJP diverted everybody’s attention from Karnataka’s by-poll results.
Changing names can temporarily hide your defeat but will never cover up your failure as government!! Jai hind#Faizabad— AFFAN HASHMI (@affanhashmii) November 6, 2018
Renaming districts&talking abt a Ram mandir is the easiest thing. U don’t need to lift a finger&boom it looks like u hv done something. It’s not like the country needs infrastructure, devpt, education, freedom from malnutrition or women’s safety anyway. #Faizabad #YogiAdityanath
— Prakriti Yadav (@Prakriti_99) November 6, 2018
If yogi was CM of TELENGANA Hyderabad would have been probably renamed Bhagyanagar ! #Faizabad
— Shashank lara (@shashanklara) November 6, 2018
Many Cities in UP are going to withness change in their names. It’s just the beginning #faizabad #Ayodhya
— Siddhartha Tripathi (@sidtripathii) November 6, 2018
We need a strong opposition until then we will just get new statues & new names.. #Faizabad
— Writer_KK (@Writer_KK) November 6, 2018
Mughalsarai ✓
Allahabad ✓#Faizabad ✓Ab Ghaziabad ki baad ki baari
— A.K. (@AKwritez) November 6, 2018
It would be nice to see UP guards in chariots, bow and arrows to guard #Ayodhya. Good bye #Faizabad. pic.twitter.com/eEWV9Kw0u1
— Ajay Singh (@jayhasgin) November 6, 2018
Will this make #Faizabad smart city,clean,hygenic,safe. #Faizabad
— Azhar Màjid (@imAzharMajid) November 6, 2018
Actually this isn’t sad at all!They just can’t help themselves as they don’t have any other imp thing to do.This way they have found a way to divide public’s attention from core matters which are imp for the well being of the society. #Faizabad
— Thenysh (@kkashaan) November 6, 2018
@myogiadityanath declares Faizabad will now be called #Ayodhya Welcome change. Except that each name change costs the exchequer.
— Anuj Khare (@KhareAnuj) November 6, 2018
If Madras can be Chennai
Bombay can be Mumbai
Bangalore can be Bengaluru
Hubli can be Hubbali
Nothing wrong in
Allahabad becoming Prayag or
Faizabad becoming Ayodhya.These are administrative decisions. Don’t lose sight on the larger picture. #Faizabad
— The Bun Lady (@TheBunLady1) November 6, 2018
So Finally Now Faizabad District Restored To I’ts Original Name As #Ayodhya. Great Move, Diwali Gift #Faizabad
— Vikram Vicky (@iamvv2606) November 6, 2018
Great move by great Yogi @myogiadityanath जय हो !
Addressing the gathering, the UP CM said that the Faizabad district, where the Ayodhya town is located, will be renamed as Sri Ayodhya.
For a long time, various organisations were demanding the renaming of #Faizabad as Ayodhya. https://t.co/tGxRCqovDr
— भारतवर्ष प्रथम (@CHAUHAN2014) November 6, 2018
Ayodhya the name by which the world knows the place. Ironical this move is also condemned #Faizabad #SriAyodhya #Ayodhya
— indiajouro (@indiajourno) November 6, 2018
People don’t hate the fact that the names are from hindu mythology. Its just that they can’t wait to see the infrastructure grow in affect of the name change
— Elina (@Elina41494028) November 6, 2018
I fully support the name change of #Faizabad as this is one of the holiest cities for Hindus same like #Mecca is for Muslims. Difference is, the name Mecca was never changed but the name of #Ayodhya was changed.
— Razaul Mustafa (@rehan_here) November 6, 2018
South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook also participated in the Deepotsav and arrived in Ayodhya to also lay foundation stone for a park built in tribute for Queen Heo Hwang-ok. According to Korean legend, the Princess of Ayodhya went to Korea in 48 AD and married King Kim-Suro.