English
Gyanvapi Mosque row: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Saturday claimed that the disputed Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi was actually a “temple of Lord Shiva”, but “unfortunately” its being called a mosque today. “Gyanvapi Mosque is actually ‘Vishwanath’ (Lord Shiva) himself, it is unfortunate that the place is being called a mosque” Adityanath said while addressing a gathering in UP’s Gorakhpur.
The chief minister asserted that the confusion over the site’s “true identity” is not only a hurdle for devotees who come to worship and offer prayers at the disputed complex , but also an obstacle in achieving national unity and integrity.
ज्ञानवापी को आज लोग दूसरे शब्दों में मस्जिद कहते हैं,
लेकिन ज्ञानवापी साक्षात ‘विश्वनाथ’ ही हैं… pic.twitter.com/njo9Fk03Xe
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) September 14, 2024
He also claimed that Hindu as well as Muslim devotees who visit the site to worship and offer prayers “regret” this confusion.
“Our nation would never have been colonized if our society would have recognized and remedied this obstacle in the past,” Adityanath said.
Notably, Adityanath’s remarks came days after a Varanasi court rejected a plea filed by the Hindu side requesting to order the local district magistrate to repair the ‘Vyas ji ka tehkhana’– the basement located within the premises of Gyanvapi mosque complex.
On Thursday, the court of Civil Judge Senior Division Hitesh Agarwal upheld the ongoing worship activities in the basement, and took into account objections raised by the Muslim side and a pending challenge before the Supreme Court.
The Varanasi district magistrate is the local custodian of the complex.
Madan Mohan Yadav, who represents the Hindu side, stated that “court’s ruling was based on the Muslim side’s opposition to repairs in the ‘Vyas ji ka tehkhana’ and the ongoing legal proceedings in the Supreme Court”, and said the Hindu side plans to appeal to the district judge’s court for permission to repair the basement.
Yadav said worship in Vyas ji’s basement resumed on January 31 following the court’s order, allowing devotees to view the installed idols. However, the Hindu side expressed concerns over the safety of the basement due to its old and weak roof and sought the intervention of the court for repair work.
They argued that Muslim worshippers walking on the roof could pose a risk of collapse and demanded that the roof and pillars be repaired.
(With inputs from agencies)
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