Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 29 (HBTV): Asserting that three generations of his family were dedicated to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said he had no problem losing power for the Ram Mandir.

Speaking at the Timeless Ayodhya: Literature and Arts Festival, CM Yogi said: ‘Though three generations of my family were dedicated to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement, I had no problem visiting Ayodhya. However, the government system is gripped by bureaucracy, and a large section of that bureaucracy used to say that visiting Ayodhya as a CM would lead to controversy. I said, let a controversy happen if it has to, but we need to think about Ayodhya. Then, another section said that if I visited, there would be discussions about the Ram Mandir. I asked, did I come here for power? There is no problem, even if I have to lose power for Ram Mandir.’

The Chief Minister also spoke about Deepotsav, stating that it has now become a major festival in Ayodhya.

‘I told Awanish Awasthi to visit quietly and see how Deepotsav could be organised there. He came to Ayodhya, conducted a survey, and said that Deepotsav should indeed be organised. Now, Deepotsav, ahead of Diwali, has become a grand festival. Large numbers of people come here to take part in it,’ he added.

Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Yogi said that the PM's vision of Virasat and Vikas had made it possible for devotees to visit the Shri Ram Mandir.

‘Lakhs of devotees arrive in Ayodhya today. Earlier, people wanted to visit, but due to a lack of leadership, they did not. We are thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who combined Virasat and Vikas,’ he said.

The Chief Minister described Ayodhya as one of the foundations of India's Sanatan heritage.

‘For a long time, Ayodhya has been the inspiration for Sanatan Dharma. Ayodhya is the first land of culture. It was here that Lord Vishnu incarnated as Lord Ram. The event being organised on the land of Lord Ram is truly remarkable,’ CM Yogi said.

CM Adityanath participated in the Timeless Ayodhya: Literature and Arts Festival, which was held in Ayodhya.

(ANI)