Led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Speaker Satish Mahana, the state’s lawmakers are on a visit to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya today. The invitation extended by the Speaker in the Assembly on Saturday put several Opposition MLAs on the spot, with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav declining the invite.
Apart from SP MLAs, all other members of the Assembly and Legislative Council, including those of RLD and Congress, were on a bus to Ayodhya on Sunday morning. People showered petals as the bus carrying the MLAs and MLCs arrived in Ayodhya.
Deputy Chief Ministers KP Maurya and Brajesh Pathak were also present at the Ram Temple on Sunday afternoon.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana, Deputy CMs KP Maurya, Brajesh Pathak and members of the UP Assembly & Legislative Council at Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. pic.twitter.com/twXRA8T2OK
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2024
Satish Mahana, the Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly said, “This holds special significance for me as I was involved in the ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti Andolan.’ This is an emotional moment for me. I am very happy.”
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker, Satish Mahana says, “This is a special moment for me because I was part of the ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti Andolan’…This is an emotional moment for me. I am very happy…” pic.twitter.com/8odBFnaMLC
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2024
In the morning, visuals shared from outside the UP Assembly showed MLAs chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ before their departure for Ayodhya.
#WATCH | Visuals from outside Uttar Pradesh Assembly in Lucknow.
On the invitation of UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Speaker Satish Mahana, the members of the UP Assembly and Legislative Council will visit Ayodhya’s Ram Janmabhoomi Temple today. pic.twitter.com/c8lPpGneEl
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2024
Speaking to news agency ANI on Sunday, BJP MLA Aditi Singh expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to visit Ayodhya, stating, “This is about religion and faith and above petty politics…”
Meanwhile, ahead of departing to Ayodhya BJP MLA from Moradabad, Ritesh Gupta said he was fortunate to get the opportunity to have darshan of Ram Lalla and thanked CM Adityanath for the same: “I am fortunate to get the opportunity to have darshan of Lord Ram Lalla. After the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, everyone wanted to visit Ayodhya and have a darshan. Today, because of CM Yogi Adityanath, all the MLAs will be travelling to Ayodhya together.”
#WATCH | BJP MLA from Moradabad, Ritesh Gupta says “I am fortunate to get the opportunity to have darshan of Lord Ram Lalla. After the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, everyone wanted to visit Ayodhya and have a darshan. Today, because of CM Yogi Adityanath, all the MLAs will be… pic.twitter.com/uZ2N3z0OlO
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2024
BSP MLA Umashankar Singh criticized the Samajwadi Party leaders for politicizing the issue, stating, “The leaders of Samajwadi Party are politicising the issue but we are not. Our party is secular & we respect all religions… if tomorrow a mosque is made there we will also go and visit again. One should not politicise this.”
#WATCH | BJP MLA Aditi Singh says, “I am fortunate that I am getting an opportunity to go to Ayodhya…This is about religion & faith and above petty politics…” pic.twitter.com/l6k5pbCh5D
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2024
During the Budget Session of the UP Assembly, the Speaker on Saturday told Akhilesh to come with them to Ayodhya. Akhilesh, who is the Leader of the Opposition, however responded, “We will go only when Lord Shri Ram calls us.”