Yogi to Akhilesh: Apologize to devotees before Ram Temple visit

The Cliff News | 7 November 2026

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued a stern call for political figures, in an apparent jibe at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, to first apologize to Ram devotees and saints before visiting the Ram Temple. The remarks were made ahead of Mr. Yadav's scheduled visit to the temple on December 12.

Addressing the 10th edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya, CM Adityanath stated that any political leader who had previously neglected the temple town or insulted its devotees must acknowledge their past actions. He emphasized the need for repentance before entering the sacred space.

Call for Apology Before Visit

“Those who had neglected and insulted (Ayodhya), who had opened fire on Ram devotees and subjected saints to lathicharge, should certainly come to Ayodhya, but only after apologising. Let them apologise once to Ram devotees and once to the saints. Let them repent for their actions,” the chief minister was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Although Mr. Adityanath did not explicitly name Mr. Yadav or the Samajwadi Party, his comments followed an announcement by former SP MLA Pawan Pandey that the party chief and his wife, Dimple Yadav, would visit the Ram Temple and Hanumangarhi on December 12. This would mark Akhilesh Yadav’s first visit to the Ram Temple since its inauguration in January 2024.

Criticism of Past Governments

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister also directed criticism towards previous administrations for their handling of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the incidents of firing on kar sevaks in Ayodhya. He recollected the decades-long temple movement, asserting that the city is now regaining its historical significance following the inauguration of the Ram Temple.

“There was a time when even uttering the name of Shri Ram in Ayodhya invited lathis and bullets. Banning the very name of Ram in this city was a sin. Ayodhya was neglected and almost consigned to oblivion. Today, that very Ayodhya has come alive again, reminding us of the Treta Yuga,” he stated.

Questioning Religious Decorum

CM Adityanath also took aim at unnamed political leaders for their conduct at religious gatherings, questioning their understanding of the decorum expected during spiritual discourses. He observed their behavior, asking if they understood the difference between a religious narration and a poetry gathering.

Furthermore, in what appeared to be another veiled reference to the opposition, the chief minister criticized individuals who had challenged the existence of Lord Ram in court during the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute. He described the acceptance of Lord Ram's existence as an “ideological victory.”