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Yogi government plans 100 meter tall Lord Ram statue at Ayodhya’s Saryu riverfront

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9 years ago

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Yogi Aditynath

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Part of the UP government’s effort to put Ayodhya on the religious tourism map, the proposal is also politically polarising

In the midst of a revival of the BJP’s politically polarising campaign for constructing a Ram Temple at the site of the Babri Masjid demolition, the Yogi Adityanath government of Uttar Pradesh is now also working on a proposal to erect a 100-meter-tall statue of Lord Ram on the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya.

The proposal for the “grand stature”, according to a report in the Indian Express, is part of the BJP government’s plan to showcase “Navya (new) Ayodhya.” The report said that the proposal had been presented to Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik as part of the state tourism department’s initiatives to promote religious tourism.

The government’s slideshow put the height of the statute at 100 meters but the Indian Express report also qualified this aspect saying that some officials claimed that the dimensions of the statue hadn’t been finalised as yet.

According to a press communique released from Raj Bhavan, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Awanish Kumar Awasthi had made the presentation which also included information on programmes scheduled for Diwali celebrations in Ayodhya on October 18. Governor Naik, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma will be present on the occasion.

The communique stated that the statue will be build at Saryughat after clearance from the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Media reports said that the state government’s plan of putting Ayodhya prominently on the religious tourism map also includes construction of a Ram Katha gallery on the banks of the Saryu river, a multi-purpose auditorium in the Digambar Akhara premises and various public utility services. The Adityanath government had reportedly sent a detailed project report outlining these proposals for the integrated development of Ayodhya to the Union ministry of tourism and sought funds worth Rs 195.89 crore. It is learnt that the ministry has already sanctioned Rs 133.70 crore to the state.

While the Adityanath government’s stated objective behind the installation of the grand Lord Ram statue may be to promote Ayodhya as a religious tourism destination, the obviously political motivations behind the move cannot be discounted.

Ever since the BJP began its victory march at the hustings with its victory in the May 2014 general elections and following it up with a landslide mandate in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year, the party’s efforts of reviving its narrative for building a grand Ram Temple at the site where its leaders led a mob to demolish the Babri Masjid in 1992 have accelerated.

Last month, Uttar Pradesh health minister Sidharth Nath Singh had quoted an astrologer while asserting that the Ram Temple will be built before 2019. Chief minister Adityanath has himself been unwavering in his support for building a Ram Temple at the disputed site while the plan is also known to have the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP and RSS leadership.

The destruction of the Babri Masjid by a Hindu mob that was led by BJP veterans like LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharati (all of whom are currently facing criminal charges in an ongoing case related to the demolition in the Supreme Court) had triggered nationwide Hindu-Muslim riots in 1992. The riots also helped the BJP gain national prominence. In the years since, the party has never shied away from asserting that it would ensure the construction of a Ram Temple on the ground where the Babri Masjid once stood – which the BJP and its sympathizers claim was actually the site of an ancient temple built to mark the birthplace of the Hindu god.

While the Supreme Court is expected to begin proceedings in December on a bunch of petitions filed by various organisations that support and oppose the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site, it is expected that the BJP – with its brute majority both at the Centre and in UP – would begin the groundwork for projecting Ayodhya as the reported Ram Janmbhoomi before the apex court can even dispose of the case, one way or the other. The plan to erect the Ram statue appears to be part of this larger design.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Asish Banerjee found dead in Rampurhat, Mamata Banerjee aide’s death shocks TMC

Former West Bengal deputy speaker and five-time Rampurhat MLA Asish Banerjee was found dead at a Trinamool Congress office in Birbhum.

Published

2 hours ago

on

August 16, 2026

By

Mamata Banerjee

Former West Bengal Assembly deputy speaker and Trinamool Congress leader Asish Banerjee was found dead at a party office next to his residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Sunday morning.

Police said his body was found hanging and was sent for postmortem. A large crowd gathered outside the Trinamool Congress office after news of his death spread.

Who was Asish Banerjee?

Asish Banerjee had served as the deputy speaker of the West Bengal Assembly when Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was the state’s chief minister. He was also a five-time MLA from Rampurhat.

He had served as Bengal’s education and agriculture minister after Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress first came to power in the state.

Banerjee contested the West Bengal Assembly election earlier this year but lost the Rampurhat seat to BJP’s Dhruba Saha.

Asish Banerjee’s recent party role

Banerjee stepped down as chairman of the Trinamool Congress’s Birbhum district core committee in June. At the time, he said he would continue as a general member of the party.

He lived in the Hattalapara neighbourhood of Rampurhat, with the party office where his body was found located next to his house.

BJP gains in Birbhum

The BJP won six of the 11 Assembly constituencies in Birbhum in the latest state election. This marked a significant change from 2021, when the Trinamool Congress had won 10 seats in the district while the BJP had secured one.

Police have sent Asish Banerjee’s body for postmortem as the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated.

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IPS Officer Nupur Prasad gets Medal for Meritorious Service after Sushant Singh Rajput probe

IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been selected for the Medal for Meritorious Service this year.

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1 day ago

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August 15, 2026

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IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been recognised with the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) this year.

A 2007-batch AGMUT cadre officer, Ms Prasad recently returned to the Delhi Police after completing her tenure with the CBI. She is currently serving as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), where she oversees investigations involving financial and economic crimes.

The award is part of this year’s recognition for police personnel for distinguished and meritorious service. Such honours recognise contributions in areas including investigation, crime prevention, public service, law and order and administration.

Nupur Prasad’s role in Sushant Singh Rajput case

Ms Prasad came into national focus during the CBI investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, 2020.

The case was transferred to the CBI in August 2020 following a complaint by the actor’s family and a legal dispute over jurisdiction.

During her tenure with the agency, Ms Prasad supervised key aspects of the investigation, including the examination of witness statements, forensic evidence and medical records.

In 2025, the CBI filed closure reports, saying its investigation found no evidence of foul play, abetment to suicide or criminal conspiracy in the actor’s death.

Career across Delhi Police, CBI

Ms Prasad has served in several positions during her career, including assignments in the Delhi Police, CBI, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal.

Before joining the CBI, she held senior positions in the Delhi Police and became the first Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Shahdara. During her tenure, she worked on establishing the district’s policing framework following its creation.

She also led operations targeting drug networks and illegal gambling activities while focusing on crime-prevention measures.

Later, as DCP of North Delhi, she oversaw security arrangements for major events, including Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort and Delhi University elections.

Community-focused policing initiatives

Beyond investigations, Ms Prasad has been associated with community-focused programmes involving women’s self-defence, youth development, cyber safety and drug de-addiction.

During her CBI tenure, she was also associated with several prominent investigations. Media reports have linked her to cases concerning businessman Vijay Mallya and the AgustaWestland helicopter deal.

Current role in Delhi Police

After completing her assignment with the CBI, Ms Prasad returned to the Delhi Police and took charge as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing.

The latest recognition adds to her career spanning investigations, policing and public service across several challenging assignments.

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Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip Independence Day event for 2nd straight year

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Published

1 day ago

on

August 15, 2026

By

Rahul Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Independence Day celebrations at the historic venue on Saturday.

The absence of the two senior Congress leaders comes amid strained relations between the ruling party and the Opposition, which further deteriorated during the Monsoon Session of Parliament that concluded on Thursday.

2024 seating controversy

Rahul Gandhi had attended the Independence Day celebrations in 2024 but his seating arrangement triggered a controversy. The Congress leader, who holds the status of a Cabinet minister as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was seated in the second-last row during the ceremony at the Red Fort.

The Opposition had criticised the seating arrangement, calling it an insult to the people. The Defence Ministry, which organised the event, said the arrangement had been modified to accommodate Olympians at the venue.

According to protocol, the Leader of the Opposition is seated in the front row during ceremonial events.

Opposition-ruling party tensions

Relations between the government and the Opposition remained tense during the Monsoon Session, which ended on Thursday.

The session saw repeated clashes between the two sides, with both the Opposition and the ruling party blaming each other for the low productivity of Parliament.

The session began on July 20, with students marching towards Parliament on the first day. Twelve bills were passed during the session, while detailed discussion took place on only one legislation, concerning paper leaks.

The Congress, along with the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, also boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die.

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