Ayodhya could be developed on the lines of Tirupati. Those involved in the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation are optmistic that the temple town would be expanded in a planned manner once a magnificent temple is constructed at the disputed site.
Ayodhya continued to remain underdeveloped despite being the prominent holy place. The Centre and state governments have been allocating a special fund for the development of religious places (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and others), but Ayodhya remained neglected. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesman Prakash Sharma conceded that Ayodhya could not develop like other religious places in the country despite that several sant and mahants stay there to perform religious activities.
Asked why it could not be developed on the lines of Tirupati when the Congress and the BJP-led governments were not against the development, he viewed it was for the successive governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh to answer.
In south, idols are worshipped by special archakas, brahmins and others cannot even touch them, but in north anybody can perform pooja.
Mr Vinay Katiyar, MP and one of the prominent leaders involved in the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation, said there were over 6,500 temples in Ayodhya. “Lord Venkateshwara temple at Tirupati is administered by a trust. And it has undertaken several activities. Such activities can be launched at Ayodhya also if the temple is built up on the disputed site. But, I am against charing money for darshan,” he said disapproving such practice going on at Tirupati. Hum kamane ke liye mandir nahi banate hain (we do not construct temples to make money),” he said.
The VHP has been critical of the BJP and the Congress governments for ignoring Ayodhya.