Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sparked fresh controversy on Saturday, stating that it is “unfortunate” to refer to the Gyanvapi structure as a mosque. According to Adityanath, Gyanvapi is an “embodiment of Lord Vishwanath” and should be recognized as a sacred Hindu site.
Adityanath made the remarks while inaugurating an international seminar on the “Contribution of Nath Panth in Building a Harmonious Society” at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University. He said, “It is unfortunate that some people refer to Gyanvapi as a mosque while it is the embodiment of Lord Vishwanath himself.”
The statement comes amidst an ongoing legal battle over the Gyanvapi mosque, with the Hindu side claiming that the mosque was built on the remains of a pre-existing temple, while the Muslim side disputes this. In January 2024, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) submitted a report stating that a large Hindu temple existed on the site before the construction of the mosque in the 17th century.
Samajwadi Party’s Response
The opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) was quick to criticize the chief minister’s comments. SP spokesperson Abbas Haidar accused Adityanath of disrespecting the judiciary, saying, “The matter is still pending in the court. It is unfortunate that the chief minister, who has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution, is making such remarks that appear to disregard the court’s authority.”
Haidar further alleged that Adityanath’s remarks were driven by “vested political interests” aimed at dividing society. “The public gave their mandate to the BJP for governance, not for inflaming religious sentiments,” he added.
Support for Adityanath’s Statement
In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and several Hindu religious leaders expressed support for Adityanath’s comments. BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla argued that “historic, archaeological, and spiritual evidence” overwhelmingly support the claim that Gyanvapi is a temple.
Raju Das, Mahant of Ayodhya’s Hanumangarhi temple, echoed similar sentiments, calling it “foolish” for anyone to label Gyanvapi as a mosque. “Even a blind person could feel the symbols of ‘Sanatan’ (Hinduism) by touching the structure,” he said, asserting that the site is intrinsically linked to Lord Vishwanath.
Ongoing Legal Battle
The Gyanvapi mosque dispute has been at the center of a prolonged legal confrontation, with both Hindu and Muslim groups presenting their cases. Earlier this year, the Hindu side completed its submissions, requesting the court to allow an additional survey of the site based on the ASI’s findings.
The Muslim side, however, has pushed back against the ASI report, stating that its conclusions are not the final word and continue to be subject to legal scrutiny.
As the legal battle unfolds, tensions remain high, with political and religious leaders from both sides weighing in on the sensitive issue.