Govt sanctions Rs 15 crore for Lord Ram’s grand statue in Prayagraj

LUCKNOW: Close on heels of the proposed 251m tall statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, the BJP government has embarked upon a plan to install another grand statue of Ram and Nishad Raj in Shringverpur area of Prayagraj. The state government has sanctioned Rs 15 crore for the mega project, which is expected to roll out soon.
Principal secretary, culture, Mukesh Meshram, told TOI a bronze statue of Ram embracing Nishad Raj would be erected close to the ghat in Shringverpur area along Ganga.He said, funds would also be used for renovation of the ghat, construction of Nishad Raj park, tourist guest house and a parking lot in the area, which will also host the annual Ramayan Mela.
The project was first proposed in 2018, in what was perceived as BJP’s attempt to lend a Hindutva push ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections amid a clamour for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The proposal also came ahead of VHP dharam sabha, which was attended by scores of seers who wanted to pressurize the government to table a Bill to pave way for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Meshram, however, did not reveal dimensions of the statue, saying it would be decided soon. It’s believed Lord Ram during his exile in Shringverpur met Nishad Raj (fishermen king), who offered to sail him through Ganga and the area became associated with social harmony.
The move is also seen as BJP’s attempt to woo Nishads, who belong to the most backward caste (MBC) in run-up to assembly elections in 2022. During 2018 by-elections in Gorakhpur, home turf of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP faced defeat after SP and BSP joined hands to field Pravin Nishad, who later switched over to BJP and contested 2019 Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket from Sant Kabir Nagar and won.