UP: Amid Ram temple hustle, Yogi govt orders 10 new Ramlila grounds; also seeks to revamp existing ones

The decision comes at a time when pressure is mounting on the government to deliver on its promise of building Ram temple at the controversial site in Ayodhya.

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New Delhi: Amid mounting pressure for Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya ahead of  2019 elections, the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has come up with a decision to revamp all the Ramlila grounds (the grounds where Ramlia is held during Dussehra) and to make way for new grounds in different districts across the state. The decision comes at a time when pressure is mounting on the government to deliver on its promise of building Ram temple at the controversial site in Ayodhya. Building of the proposed tallest statue of Lord Rama will also be taking a long time. To appease the voters and parties like Shiv Sena meanwhile, the UP government has decided establishing a number of Ramlila grounds across the state. Initially, the government has issued orders to district magistrates (DMs) of 10 districts to start work for the strengthening and protection of Ramlila grounds. Actions are in full swing in this direction. A committee has been set up in every district for this purpose, which is headed by district magistrates and has ADM, SDM, tourism official, and an official of culture department. The committee has been directed to prepare a report in the matter and send it to government on a priority basis. Ramlila grounds are already there in many cities of the state, the record of which is with the revenue department. However, there are many such districts which have no Ramlila ground. Firstly, plots will be decided for the grounds in these districts and then 6 to 8 foot high walls will be constructed on which stories from Ramayana will be etched with the help of murals. Every Ramlila ground is to have a main gate, the names of which will be based on Ayodhya, Chitrakut, Mithila, Janakpur and Panchwati. Every ground will have access to basic facilities like electricity and water. After a series of actions focused on glorifying Hindutva, Yogi Adityanath has taken this step, amid mounting pressure for Ram temple construction. Adityanath government has recently changed names of Allahabad and Faizabad to Prayagraj and Ayodhya respectively. He also vowed to build the tallest Ram statue in Ayodhya.