In a recent podcast interview with ANI Editor Smita Prakash, Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, offered a unique perspective on the long-standing controversy surrounding the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi. The mosque has been at the center of a legal dispute, with conflicting claims about its historical origins.
Yogi Adityanath, who also holds the position of head priest at Gorakhnath Mutt in Gorakhpur, shared his concerns about the ongoing debate, emphasizing that the walls of Gyanvapi seemed to carry a message from the past. He expressed his belief that designating the site solely as a mosque could potentially escalate tensions and called for a proposal from the Muslim community to address the complex historical situation.
"If we call it a mosque, there will be a dispute. I feel whoever has been blessed with sight by God, that person should see. What is a trishul (trident) doing inside a mosque? We did not put it there. There is a jyotirlinga, dev pratimas (idols)," the chief minister said, highlighting the presence of elements commonly associated with Hindu religious sites within the mosque premises.
He further elaborated on the emotional aspect of the issue, stating, "The walls are screaming and saying something. I feel there should be a proposal from the Muslim society that there has been a historical mistake and we need a solution."
Adityanath's comments come at a crucial juncture as the Allahabad High Court is set to deliver a verdict on a plea challenging a lower court's order to conduct a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to determine if the mosque was built upon a pre-existing temple. The court has extended the stay on the ASI survey until August 3.
Responding to the Chief Minister's statement, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi raised concerns about judicial overreach and pointed out that the Muslim side had already opposed the ASI survey in court. The controversy surrounding Yogi Adityanath's remarks has ignited a fresh round of debate on the delicate balance between religious sentiments, historical claims, and the role of the judiciary in resolving such disputes.
The Gyanvapi mosque controversy traces its roots back decades, with multiple claims and counterclaims from both Hindu and Muslim communities. Notably, on July 21, a Varanasi district court ordered an ASI survey of the site based on a petition filed by four Hindu women. However, the court excluded a sealed section, the subject of conflicting assertions, pending further legal proceedings.
The ASI conducted a brief survey on July 24, using advanced techniques like dating, excavation, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) before the Supreme Court intervened and allowed the petitioners to approach the Allahabad High Court.
