Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday joined Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya.
Artistes dressed as Ram, Sita and Laxman arrived by a government chopper reached Ayodhya, followed by another helicopter that showered flowers.
About 1.7 lakh diyas and earthern lamps are expected to be lit for the evening aarti on the river banks to be performed by the Chief Minister.
Officials said that the 1.71 lakh earthen lamps being lit at an event could enter the Guinness Book of World Records.
Seeking to deflect opposition criticism, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said today that no politics should be seen behind his government's efforts to develop this temple town which gave the idea of 'Ram Rajya' - where there is no poverty or discrimination.
Speaking at the glittering 'Deepotsav' organised on the bank of river Sarayu on Diwali eve here, Adityanath hit out at critics claiming that there were some who opposed and questioned his actions regardless of what he did.
"Ayodhya gave the concept of Ram Rajya - where there is no poverty, pain, grief or discrimination," Adityanath said adding that the real meaning of Ram Rajya is a home for everyone and electricity and LPG cylinders for every household.
"There are some who are used to opposing everything we do. If I come to Ayodhya they raise questions and if I don't they
say I am afraid of coming here. Now they are saying that the Ayodhya programme is to divert the attention of people. I am here with my work, including loan waivers, wheat purchase etc, done in the past six months," he said.
Attacking opposition parties, the UP chief minister said his government did not discriminate on the basis of caste or religion unlike what happened earlier.
"We don't discriminate on the basis of caste, creed and religion. In the previous 'Ravan Raj', there was discrimination on basis of family, caste and other factors," he said.
The chief minister said he found it below dignity to even to react to "insulting and dirty" allegations levelled by the opposition.
Beginning his speech with 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' slogans, he said Ayodhya has much to humanity.
"It gave the concept of Ram Rajya, where there is no poverty, pain and grief. Where there is no discrimination. The objective of the programme is to present the real picture to the entire world," he said. Adityanath also compared the Narendra Modi government's work for the masses at the Centre with Ram Rajya.
The chief minister wondered as to why there were negative discussions on Ayodhya.
"We are making an attempt to take it from negativity to positivity. I am happy all Ayodhya residents cooperated in this endeavour. Ayodhya remained neglected, faced attacks continuously, but it will not remain so. We have launched Rs 133 crore schemes here," he said.
Adityanath said this was first of the four phases planned for Ayodhya.
"There will be beautification of Ayodhya and its ghats. This effort will continue in other historic places. Be it Kashi, Mathura, Namisharayna (Sitapur), Mirzapur, Tulsipur (Balrampur), Saharanpur, we will develop historical places. The state should become a world tourism hub and it is a beginning from Ayodhya," he said.
The chief minister said he wanted to restore the ancient glory of Ayodhya. Referring to the 1.71 of earthen lamps being lit on the bank of river Sarayu, Adityanath said the figure matched the population under the Ayodhya Nagar Nigam.
(With inputs from agencies)
