News Tamil Nadu

TN BJP Head K Annamalai Highlights Ayodhya Ram Mandir’s Economic Potential; Naysayers Question Numbers, ‘All-In-All’ Sumanth Shifts Goalposts When Presented With Facts

February 16, 2024
The Commune

Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party President K Annamalai addressed medical students at ACS Medical College in Chennai on 13 February 2024.

In what was an apolitical speech that centered around topics relating to the country and how it could achieve greater heights in the future with the participation of the youth, especially as they were new voters, he spoke about the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He asked the students if the construction of the temple was indeed correct. When the students answered yes, he elaborated on why he asked the question. He said, “The number of people who visit Tirupati every year is 2.5 crores. From the 2.5 crores footfall, Lord Balaji earns ₹1,200 crores. The number of people who visit Mecca every year is 2 crores. Mecca earns about $12 billion. The number of people who visit the Vatican is 80 lakhs, the Vatican earns about $315 million. These are the world’s largest footfalls from different communities to their places of worship. Now the State Bank of India in its research report says next year Ayodhya is going to beat all the record where 5 crore people will visit Ayodhya in one year. They are going to bring money to UP next year which is ₹4 lakh crores. The government of UP is going to earn a tax of ₹25,000 crore.”

He further elaborated, “Don’t look at it as just a temple. There are six countries – top economies in the world, which run their budget only with tourists – Italy, Switzerland, just to give a couple of countries for your understanding. They run the whole country’s budget where the tourism revenue is the single most income sheet in the government. We are talking of one Rama Temple which is a matter of faith for more than 80% of Indians next year is going to attract 5 crore footfall which is going to help the various stakeholders earn up to ₹4 lakh crores and the government of UP in its taxation is going to earn ₹25,000 crores.” 

 

However, this information was misinterpreted by the supporters of the DMK and ADMK as well as self-proclaimed “neutral” commentators like Sumanth Raman who went on and on about it questioning the claim. It is ironic that political commentators like Sumanth Raman fail to stay updated with the news when these exact facts were published in leading newspapers.

 

When presented with facts, the same neutral commentator and DMK/ADMK supporters start shifting goalposts. The below post is from the State Bank Of India report that Annamalai mentions in his speech.

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