Team Clarion
AYODHYA – Several residents of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh have been made to suffer in this chilly weather as their hearths and homes have been bulldozed to make way for the expansion of the Ram Temple and the widening of the roads leading to it.
The city, undergoing significant changes with the temple construction, is witnessing contrasting emotions. While some people are celebrating the construction of the temple, others, like the residents directly affected, find themselves in dire straits. Streets that once housed homes and businesses are now transformed into pathways, leaving many without shelter.
Among those affected is 50-year-old Dr. Saveta, who now operates a makeshift makeup shop on the footpath. Her husband also helps her in her endeavour. Their Ayurvedic products store was demolished to make way for the widening of the area around Sugreev Fort. Swetha, visibly distressed, expressed the anguish of many locals, stating, “Today’s situation is that we have neither food nor a house to stay in. People of Ayodhya are being destroyed.”
The expansion has taken a heavy toll on various landmarks and homes along the 13-km route from Saadat Ganj to Naya Ghat, now renamed Rampath. Numerous wells, houses, temples, mosques, and graves have been demolished, with shopfronts along the Rampath.
Heartbreaking stories emerge, such as that of 70-year-old Sushila Devi, whose two-room house was bulldozed a year ago, leaving her homeless and a fight to feed herself and her family. The plight of families near the Ram Temple, promised houses but left without compensation, highlights the human cost of the construction of the temple.
Geeta Yadav, whose family received only 25,000 rupees in compensation, narrates the struggles after her house was razed. Her problems include missed education for her wards and enough opportunities to earn a living.
As Ayodhya undergoes various development projects alongside the temple construction, the widening of the Pulchhavi road has led to the displacement of many families. Om Prakash Sahani, one of the affected, has been left to rebuild his broken shop on his own.
Shiv Kumari Devi, while acknowledging the development, laments her lack of resources to secure alternative housing.
The cacophony surrounding the consecration ceremony of the temple has drowned out their cries for help. Journalists, seemingly prioritising the government’s narrative, have contributed to the overshadowing of Ayodhya’s struggles. As the city remains a political focal point, with the BJP eyeing the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the residents find themselves embroiled in the harsh realities of displacement.
