A Record-Breaking Celebration with a Political Charge
While Ayodhya set a new world record by illuminating the banks of the Saryu River with over 22 lakh earthen lamps, the spectacular Deepotsav celebration became a stage for a fiery political speech by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Amidst the devotional chants and festive glow, the Chief Minister launched a scathing attack on his political rivals, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), framing the upcoming Ram Mandir inauguration as a victory over them.
Standing in the heart of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, CM Yogi reminded the massive gathering of a past defined by political opposition to the temple. “There was a time when even mentioning the name of Ayodhya was considered a sin,” he declared. “Now, the world is witnessing a grand and divine Ayodhya.”
“They Called Lord Ram a Myth”: Yogi Targets Congress
The Chief Minister’s sharpest criticism was reserved for the Congress party. He directly referenced the controversial affidavit filed by the Congress-led UPA government in the Supreme Court, which had questioned the historical existence of Lord Ram and the Ram Setu.
“These are the same people who used to say that Ram is a myth,” Yogi Adityanath announced, his words aimed at the deep-seated faith of the devotees present. This line of attack is designed to resonate strongly with voters who view the Ram Mandir as a vindication of their religious beliefs against past political and legal challenges.
Recalling a Painful Past: The Firing on Kar Sevaks
CM Yogi also revisited one of the most volatile chapters in the Ayodhya movement, directly targeting the Samajwadi Party. He transported the crowd back to 1990, a period of intense conflict and confrontation.
“No one can forget the time when bullets were mercilessly fired upon the innocent Kar Sevaks in this very Ayodhya,” he stated, a pointed reference to the firing incident that occurred under the government of then-Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. By contrasting the “bullets” of the past with the “diyas” of the present, he painted a stark picture of two opposing eras: one of oppression under his rivals and one of Hindu cultural restoration under the BJP.
Strategic Timing: Ram Mandir and the 2024 Elections
The speech was a calculated political move, delivered with perfect timing and at the perfect venue. With the grand inauguration of the Ram Mandir scheduled in just a few months and the 2024 general elections on the horizon, CM Yogi’s address was clearly aimed at consolidating the BJP’s core Hindutva vote bank.
He effectively transformed the Ram Mandir from a religious monument into a powerful symbol of political triumph and cultural resurgence. The narrative presented was one of struggle, sacrifice (honouring the Kar Sevaks), and ultimate victory over forces that, in his words, sought to deny Hindu heritage. As the record-breaking diyas lit up the Saryu, the political flames ignited by the Chief Minister’s words signalled the opening salvo for the upcoming electoral battle.
