Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan addresses the Deepotsav 2026 celebrations at Ram Katha Park, in Ayodhya on Saturday. (@VPIndia X/ANI Photo)
A yodhya: Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan on Saturday said he had never witnessed such a grand celebration in his life, expressing admiration for the scale of the 10th edition of Deepotsav in Ayodhya .
Recalling his past visits to Uttar Pradesh, he said: “Earlier, when I visited Uttar Pradesh, I did not feel safe. Referring to a recent interaction with a shopkeeper in Varanasi, Radhakrishnan said the man told him that even young women could now venture out at midnight without fear. The shopkeeper admitted that he was previously involved in criminal activities but abandoned it and decided to run a small business and support his family, according to the Vice-President. That is the change brought about by Yogi Adityanath,” he said.
It was not just about my safety. Nobody was safe. Law and order was in the hands of goons, not the police. “This was not an ordinary shopkeeper speaking.
It was someone who had earlier been involved in crime and had become a trader. Today, law and order is entirely in the hands of the police and administration.
Addressing the gathering, Radhakrishnan said he was deeply moved to be present in Lord Ram’s birthplace. He described Deepotsav as more than a symbolic celebration, saying it held special significance for every Indian household.
He also praised the transformation of law and order in Uttar Pradesh under chief minister Yogi Adityanath , saying the state had changed considerably since his earlier visits.