After playing politics in the name of Lord Ram, now Gujarat government is trying to woo tourists from across the world in the name of the Lord. Not even that, the name of Mahatma Gandhi will also be used to attract tourists in the state. The state plans to organize a ‘Gandhi Tour’ and a ‘Ram Tour’ to draw tourists to visit historical places associated with the duo.
“ The idea is to link all places with historical and mythological association with Gandhi and Lord Ram through a tour and market it to tourists,” Gujarat Government spokesman and Tourism Minister Jaynarayan Vyas said.
‘ Gandhi Tour’ is a part of Centre’s 1600 crore initiative to use Gandhi’s name as a tourist attraction. Mahatma’s grandson and West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi will oversee the development of the initiative.
Gujarat has many places linked with important stages of Gandhi’s life. Porbandar, his birthplace, Rajkot and Ahmedabad, where he started the freedom movement and where his ashrams still exitst and Dandi, where he lifted the salt that shook the British Empire.
“ Gandhian thought is becoming more acceptable globally with leaders like Mandela and Obama invoking his name in public speechs. Likewise vegetarianism and abstaining from alcohol is also becoming fashionable among the elite classs,” Vyas said. The minister said that ‘Ram Tour’ will similarly offer a tour of all the places in the state which has mythological association with Lord Ram.
Gujarat government is also trying to cash the name of Lord Ram in some of the communally sensitive districts of the state. Vyas said, “ There are areas in Dang, such as Gautam Ashram which has mythological association with Lord Ram.” This is important to note that Dang is the district where communal clashes have taken place in recent past and RSS has pushed ahead the idea of organizing miny ‘Kumbh’ there.
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