Ayodhya train flagged off from Amb Andaura

UNA, FEBRUARY 5

Union minister Anurag Singh Thakur today flagged off a special train from Amb Andaura railway station in Una district to Ayodhya.

Speaking on the occasion, Anurag said the ‘Aastha Special Train’ was the first in the series of trains being initiated from Hamirpur parliamentary constituency to Ayodhya to enable ‘darshans’ of the Ram Lalla by the devotees from the region. He said after a wait of 500 years, the deity has found its place in the sanctum sanctorum and devotees from all over the country and even from other parts of the world were rushing to Ayodhya temple to have a glimpse of the deity and pay obeisance.

The Union minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railways Minister Ashwani Vaishnav for providing an opportunity and travel facilities to the people to visit Ayodhya. On the occasion, he paid tributes to ‘kar sewaks’, who made the supreme sacrifice for temple construction. He said the present generation was very fortunate to be able to witness the construction of an adorable temple at Ayodhya.

In his address, Rajeev Bindal, state BJP president, said the party was making efforts to start two to three special trains every week from Himachal Pradesh to Ayodhya, keeping in view the enthusiasm and demand of the general public. He said ‘Aastha Special train’ services would start shortly from the nearby railway stations to Ayodhya, adding that another train will start from Una railway station on February 7 and from Pathankot station on February 9.

Bindal said distrit BJP units in Kangra and Mandi were also planning to send their deevotees by train. He appreciated that a group of people from Una district had set up a ‘langar’ at Ayodhya besides making bedding arrangements for 1,000 persons.