Mayawati slams Centre, UP government for Ayodhya projects

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Monday criticised the BJP-led central government's decision to build a Ramayana Museum in Ayodhya and the Samajwadi Party-led Uttar Pradesh government's plan to construct a Ramleela Theme Park there as only for electoral gains.

"Decision to build a Ramayana Museum and Ramleela Theme Park in Ayodhya by the BJP and the SP just before the assembly elections shows their intentions," the BSP chief said in a statement.

She also said that these promises would remain unfulfilled due to the lack of the budget.

"Attempts at taking political mileage by linking religion with politics is condemnable. And if their intentions were good, these projects would have started earlier," Mayawati said.

Mayawati's remarks came after Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Mahesh Sharma said he will visit Ayodhya on Tuesday to inspect the proposed Ramayana Museum.

The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Monday approved the use of red sand stone at the under-construction Ramleela Theme Park in Ayodhya. The cabinet in a statement said that the project completion would help in generating employment and in the spread of Indian culture and tradition worldwide.

Mayawati criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "remembering" Ayodhya just before the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

"It is good to develop Ayodhya from tourism point-of-view," she added.

Taking a dig at the SP-led state government, Mayawati said, "They are following BJP these days, that's why they have announced to build Ramleela Theme Park now."

Mayawati also cautioned the central and the state governments to take precautions as the Ramjanmahoomi and Babri Masjid cases are still pending in the Allahabad High Court.

"There is a trend of inaugurating incomplete projects in the state by the central and the state governments, which is just a theatrics to befool the voters," Mayawati alleged.

She said the BJP-led central government and the state government have a "habit to indulge in cheap politics, which was earlier used by Congress".

--IANS

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