Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday, 6 November, announced that Faizabad district will be renamed to Ayodhya. He was attending a Diwali celebration event with South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook in attendance in Ayodhya city.
He said, “Ayodhya is an epitome of our pride, it’s known because of Lord Ram. From today, this janpad (Faizabad) will also be called Ayodhya.”
He also announced to establish a medical college in the city, which he wants to be named after king Dasharatha. "We will also construct an airport here named after Lord Ram," he added. The announcements came during the ceremony of Queen Hur Memorial Park in the city. South Korean first lady was also part of the Diwali celebrations where the artists from both the countries performed.
Jung-sook arrived at the Amausi Airport on Monday, 5 November, and received a warm welcome. Kim is on a four-day visit to India, and will be spending two days in Uttar Pradesh, where she will partake in Diwali celebrations.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveehs Kumar tweeted, "Linkages that go beyond time! First Lady of Republic of Korea, Mrs Kim Jung-sook at the ground breaking ceremony of Queen Hur Memorial Park with @myogiadityanath in Ayodhya. Princess Suriratna from Ayodhya married King Kim-Suro, and became Queen Hur Hwang-ok in the year 48 AD."
Earlier, MEA spokesperson had tweeted, "Affectionate bonding. EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on the First Lady of the Republic of Korea, Mrs Kim Jung-sook. India and ROK (Republic of Korea) share a special strategic partnership since 2015 and our relations have deepened and diversified in recent years."
The memorial park, where the chief minister received the first lady with a bouquet of flowers, has a 2,000-year-old history. According to Korean legends, princess Suriratna from Ayodhya had travelled to Korea, married king Kim Suro and became queen Heo Hwang-ok some 2,000 years ago.
Kim Jung-sook will travel to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal before she flies back to South Korea.
(With inputs from PTI)
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