Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphasised his government’s achievements in developing Hindu pilgrimage sites and getting a Ram temple built as he celebrated Chhoti Diwali in Ayodhya.

“Once, people avoided even talking about Ram, about our culture and civilisation. Even Ram’s existence was questioned. As a result, our religious and cultural sites lagged behind,” he told a gathering of BJP members, sadhus and shopkeepers.

“I used to be sad (before 2014) seeing the pollution whenever I visited Ayodhya’s Ram Ghat. The poor condition of Kashi (Varanasi), its pollution and (narrow) lanes, used to make us anxious…. We have restored the glories of the Ram temple, Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Kedarnath….”

Modi, who has been underlining his Hindutva credentials in the run-up to key Assembly polls and the 2024 general election, later paid obeisance at the makeshift Ram temple and visited the site where the bigger temple is coming up. He also met Ramlila artistes.

The BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh have beautified the surroundings of the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

Modi made pilgrimages to Kedarnath and Badrinath on Friday and spoke similarly about past governments ignoring Hindu culture and religious places while he had promoted their growth.

The Yogi Adityanath government lit over 17 lakh diyas in the temple area in Ayodhya on Diwali Eve.