Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the disputed Ram Janmabhumi site, a day after the mega pre-Diwali celebrations organised by his government in the temple town.

Speaking to reporters after the visit, Adityanath said Ayodhya was his personal belief and opposition parties had no right to question him on it.

On the second day of his visit, Adityanath, after having stayed for the night at the Faizabad circuit house, offered prayers at the Hanumangarhi temple before going to the Ram Janmabhumi site.

Later, speaking to mediapersons, the priest-turned- politician said, "Ayodhya is my personal belief and it is my duty to develop Ayodhya.”

After visiting Hanumangharhi and Ram Janmabhumi site, Adityanath went to Digambar Akhara where he had breakfast with about a dozen 'mahants'. He also visited the Sugreev Qila temple to meet its ailing priest, Purushottamacharya.

On the second day of his visit to Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the Sugriva temple. Speaking to reporters, he said:

As the Chief Minister, it is my duty to be committed towards development of every place of the state. Believers come to Ram Janmabhoomi from everywhere in the world. It is my job to ensure their security. I personally have faith in this, so how can the Opposition have an issue with it?

On the eve of Diwali, the UP Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the Ram Katha Park, which will be built at a cost of Rs 37.10 crore.

Other projects being taken up by the state government in Ayodhya include a Ram Katha Gallery and Queen Ho memorial for which Rs 7.23 crore has been earmarked. A new bus station will also be built at a cost of Rs 7.04 crore and Rs 15.65 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of a parking lot at the old bus station.

A multi-purpose hall at the Digambar Akhada will be built at a cost of Rs 2.75 crore, a shelter for pilgrims at Panchkosi Parikrama route at a cost of Rs 1.88 crore and Rs 23.37 crore for construction of a toilet and parking at the Pateshwaru temple premises, and a tourist information centre at the railway station will also be built at a cost of Rs 5.38 lakh.

Adityanath laid the foundation stone for beautification works at Ram ki Paidi (Rs 12.04 crore), development of the Laxman Kila Ghat (Rs 9.73 crore), development and parking construction at Guptar Ghat, street rejuvenation and pedestrian streets. He also announced that there would be no dearth of funds for development of Ayodhya and said that the state government had big plans to develop the temple town as a major tourist draw.

Yogi Adityanath performs aarti on the banks of Saryu River in Ayodhya in the presence of UP Governor Ram Naik.

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Ram Rajya is development, it is 'Bijli, Sadak aur Pani', UP CM Adityanath said while addressing the audience in Ayodhya.

Yogi Adityanath addresses the people of Ayodhya ahead of Diwali celebrations in the temple town on the banks of Saryu River.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Ayodhya on 18 October, ahead of Diwali to attend the grand celebrations that have been planned in the temple town.

The CM is scheduled to watch a Ramleela later this evening. The performance, planned at the banks of the Saryu River, will also feature lasers.

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