Gyanvapi issue: Adityanath says ‘Muslim side should admit historic mistake… propose solution’

The CM added that since the matter was in court, it should look at the whole issue. “If there is physical, shastriya (classical) and archaeological evidence, a decision should be taken on it,” Yogi said.

“Trishul masjid ke andar kya kar raha hai? Humne to nahin rakha naa? Wahan to suraksha hai, Central forces hain, unke mutawalli hain, tala-chabhi unke paas rehti hai. Trishul kaise vahan bane hue hain? Jyotirling hai, dev pratimayen hain, poori diwaren chilla-chilla ke kya keh rahi hain (What is a trident doing inside the mosque? Did we put it there? There is security at the place, Central forces are deployed, their mutawalli or waqf official is there, the lock and key are in his possession. How are tridents carved there then? Jyotirling, idols of deities… why does every part of the structure scream of all this)?” he said.

Adityanath was replying to a question on a possible solution to the Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath temple dispute. He also appealed to the Muslims to hold a discussion on development of the community, and went on to give the example of the poor economic condition of Pakistan.

One can distort history but not the evidence that is all over the structure, the CM said. Urging the Muslim side to come forward and admit this, Adityanath said: “Aur mujhe lagta hai ki yeh prastav Muslim samaj ki taraf se aana chahiye, ki sahab, aitihasik galti hui hai aur uss galti ke liye ham chahte hain samadhan ho (And I think that a proposal should come from the Muslim side, that a historic mistake has happened and that they want a solution for that mistake).”

On @ANI #Podcast https://t.co/0oz2ezUt1V

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) July 31, 2023

Last week, the Allahabad High Court reserved its judgment on an application filed by the Gyanvapi mosque committee challenging the Varanasi district court’s order directing the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a “scientific survey” of the mosque for ascertaining whether the “present structure” was “constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple”.

Chief Justice Pritinker Diwaker, who heard the matter, said the survey would not be conducted till the High Court passes its order. The court will consider it next on August 3.

After Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura are intrinsic to the Sangh Parivar’s temple agenda. A Gyanvapi-like survey has also been ordered of the Shahi Idgah Mosque site in Mathura, which is believed to be Lord Krishna’s janmasthan.

Responding to a question on Uniform Civil Code in the interview, Adityanath said that the rule of “one nation, one law” must be implemented. As a citizen of the country, everyone should accept the law of India, he said.

On religious objections by some to the Vande Mataram, Adityanath said, “Desh samvidhan se chalega, matt aur mazhab se nahin. Aapka matt, aapka mazhab apne tarike se hoga, apne ghar mein hoga, apni masjid, apni ibadatgaah tak hoga. Sadak par pradarshan karne ke liye nahin. Aur isko aap kisi bhi anya tarike se dusre pe thop nahin sakte hain (The country is run as per the Constitution and not by faith or religion. You may practise your faith, your religion your own way, at your home, mosque, place of prayer. But you can’t use the same for demonstrating on the road. And you cannot force it on others in any way).”

He added that nation comes first. “Agar desh mein kisi ko rehna hai toh usko rashtra ko sarvopari manana hoga. Apne matt aur mazhab ko nahin. Matt aur mazhab secondary hai… nation first hai (If one has to live in the country, one has to put nation above everything. Not faith or religion. Faith or religion are secondary, nation is first).”