Yogi Adityanath demands apology from SP, Congress over 2003 Ayodhya namaz row

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanded an apology from the Samajwadi Party and Congress, alleging they allowed namaz at Ayodhya’s Hanumangarhi temple complex in 2003. He accused the opposition of historically blocking development and disrespecting the Hindu faith

Ayodhya/Basti (UP): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday accused the Samajwadi Party and the Congress of disrespecting Hindu faith, alleging they had earlier allowed namaz to be offered at the Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya and demanded that they apologise for the “sin”.

Addressing a public meeting in Bikapur in Ayodhya after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of 217 development projects worth over Rs 432 crore, Adityanath said those who now claim to speak for faith had committed a “sin” by allowing namaz to be offered on the steps of Hanumangarhi.

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“They had namaz offered at Hanumangarhi. Can anyone imagine Hanuman Chalisa being recited inside Jama Masjid? Can any government or the Samajwadi Party or the Congress ever make that happen? If not, then why was this sin committed at Hanumangarhi? Who was responsible for it?” he said.

The chief minister was apparently referring to an incident from November 2003 when an attempt was made to offer namaz outside the Hanumangarhi, a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman, but permission was not granted by the local police.

When asked about the namaz incident, former UP Director General of Police and BJP MP Brij Lal on Friday told PTI, “This is correct. This incident dates back to November 2003 during the month of Ramzan.”

“Back then, the BSP government led by Mayawati had exited,” Brijlal recalled suggesting that the entire ‘namaz plan’ was made during then Mulayam Singh Yadav government allegedly at the behest of “an officer with Samajwadi Party-Leftist leanings”.

“The plan was to hold roza iftaar after namaz. But this couldn’t succeed as the then SSP Faizabad (now Ayodhya) Rajeev Sabharwal firmly said he won’t allow this,” Brijlal recalled.

Following the opposition, namaz was finally offered at the Hanumangarhi mahant’s residence adjacent to the temple.

“The original plan was to offer namaz right outside Hanumangarhi but police didn’t allow it,” Brij Lal stated.

At the public meeting, Adityanath also said that the SP and the Congress had consistently opposed the development of Ayodhya and created hurdles in the construction of the Ram temple.

“They questioned the very existence of Lord Ram, fired bullets at Ram devotees and created an identity crisis for Ayodhya. After the double-engine government came to power, the grand Ram temple was built and no one could stop it. Today, lakhs of devotees visit Ayodhya every year,” he said.

Adityanath’s attack on the opposition comes amid a raging controversy over alleged donation theft at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The CM alleged that the opposition was uncomfortable with the transformation of Ayodhya because it had failed to undertake similar works while in power.

“They oppose Ayodhya today because they could not do these works themselves. They are unhappy that an international airport has been named after Maharishi Valmiki and that projects have been named after Nishad Raj and other revered personalities,” he said.

Highlighting the BJP government’s work in the temple town, Adityanath said Ayodhya had undergone a complete transformation since 2017.

“There was a time when Ayodhya lacked proper roads, electricity and basic civic amenities. Today, it is resplendent, its streets are illuminated, it has become one of the country’s selected solar cities and boasts modern road, rail and air connectivity,” he said.

He said the city now had a chain of developed ghats, Ram Ki Paidi, Bhakti Path, Ram Path and other infrastructure that had enhanced the experience of pilgrims.

“What could not be achieved in 500 years has now become a reality. Generations of saints and devotees struggled for the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Those who once claimed that even a bird could not fly in Ayodhya can now see lakhs of devotees arriving every year,” he said.

Later speaking at a function in Basti district, Adityanath again referred to the namaz incident at Hanumangarhi.

“Recall, these very people were the biggest obstacles to the construction of the temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya — a place that symbolizes the faith of us all. These are the people who fired upon Ram devotees. These are the people who questioned the very existence of Lord Ram,” the chief minister said.

“And these are the people and sinners who had ‘namaz’ offered on the stairs of the sacred Hanumangarhi. Now, they must seek an apology for the sin they had committed on the stairs of the sacred Hanumangarhi,” Adityanath said.

He added that the SP must seek an apology for the firing on devotees of Lord Ram, and for incidents in which innocent Hindus were harassed, and their faith was hurt.