The stage is set for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the historic Ram Leela in Aishbagh area of the old city here on the occasion of Dussehra today.
A local BJP leader informed that UP Governor Ram Naik, CM Akhikesh Yadav, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Lucknow Mayor Dinesh Sharma are likely to welcome the Prime Minister at the airport. Modi is expected to land here at 6pm and will head for the venue of the celebrations by a chopper.
The entire city has been decked up and the streets from where the PM’s cavalcade will pass have been painted.
Aishbagh Ramlila ground, the venue of the Dusshera programme, is decorated with 20 quintals of flowers. A 121-feet Ravan is erected and will be set afire through laser by PM Modi, in the presence of local MP Rajnath Singh and Dinesh Sharma.
45 LED screens have been put at various crossings in the city so that people can watch the live coverage of the function.
Officials, however, said that due to security reasons the Prime Minister will only participate in Vijaydashmi celebrations (offer prayers to Lord Ram and Hanuman and address the gathering) and leave the venue before the firecrackers begin.
“The Ravan effigy will be burnt after the Prime Minister leaves the venue. Every year we give a social message as the effigy goes up in flames, and the theme this year is ‘atankvaad ka samool naash’ (destruction of terrorism from its roots),” Harishchandra Agarwal, president of Ram Leela Samiti, said.
Agarwal said that approximately 30,000 people will be allowed on the ground, and more than 2 lakh are expected to watch the telecast live on 20 LCD screens put up outside.
Uttar Pradesh’s Principal Secretary (Information) Navneet Sahgal said that Akhilesh Yadav will receive PM Modi at the city airport but is unlikely to attend the programme.
According to Dinesh Sharma, Rajnath Singh, Ram Naik and a state government minister will be present on the dais with the PM.
Akhilesh, he said, was also invited but his presence has not been confirmed.
The city has been converted into a fortress with the officials of Special Protection Group (SPG) taking their positions and monitoring the security of the ground and roads.
Meanwhile, the BJP has asked its workers that no politics should be done on the programme. Also, no hoardings will be put up in the city to glamorise the event.
The visit of Modi to attend the function gains importance in view of the upcoming Assembly polls in UP.
The PM will return to New Delhi at around 7.30 pm.
