Temples Destroyed Repeatedly, Says Yogi Adityanath, Hours After Mohan Bhagwat Discourages More Mandir-Masjid Disputes
The comments are significant as they come after the Supreme Court put a stay on decisions on any new surveys or petitions in temple-mosque disputes till next February
Hours after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat said it is “unacceptable" to rake up new mandir-masjid (temple-mosque) disputes in the country, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday that temples of Hindus were destroyed again and again in various parts of the country.
“Temples of Hindus have been destroyed time and again, in Kashi Vishwanath Temple, in Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya, Krishna Janambhoomi in Mathura, in Sambhal at Kalki Avatar’s Harihar Bhoomi, and in Bhojpur…Temples were broken here and made impure," the UP chief minister said, naming the sites of the Gyanvapi and Sambhal mosques by their Hindu temple names. The CM was speaking in Ayodhya. He added that it must be ensured that no such situations arise in the future due to which “our religious places have to be insulted".
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The Samajwadi Party’s senior leader Ram Gopal Yadav used the opportunity to take potshots at the Bharatiya Janata Party. “Though Bhagwat is giving sound advice, no one is listening to him in the BJP anymore," Yadav said.
All this came soon after RSS chief Bhagwat spoke again on the mandir-masjid disputes in the country
Bhagwat said some individuals, following the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, are under the impression that they can become “leaders of Hindus" by raking up such disputes.
This is unacceptable, he added.
“Every day, a new matter (dispute) is being raked up. How can this be allowed? This cannot continue," Bhagwat said.
The RSS chief said the world needs to be shown that the country can live together in harmony.
“By building Ram temple, which is a matter of faith for Hindus, one does not become a Hindu leader. Ram temple is a matter of faith for Indians. Under the burden of the past, we should not resort to extreme hatred, malice, enmity, and after raising doubts, we should not rake up new issues," he said. “The Ram temple was a matter of faith, and Hindus felt that it should be built…Raising issues about some new sites out of hate and enmity is unacceptable."
This is not the first time Mohan Bhagwat has spoken on the issue.
In 2022, he said it was not proper to escalate communal fights.
“Why look for a ‘Shivling’ in every Masjid?" asked Mohan Bhagwat while addressing a ceremony then in Nagpur.
This was in light of the Gyanvapi issue, which Bhagwat said involves some issues of faith, and the court’s decision on it should be accepted by all. He also advised everyone involved in the Gyanvapi case to sit together and find a way with mutual consent.
But also, he said, there was no need to find a Shivling in every mosque and start a new dispute every day.
Bhagwat said that the RSS had already made it clear that its participation in the Ayodhya agitation was an exception for historical reasons, and the Sangh had completed it. “Now, we don’t want to lead any movement," he said.
Bhagwat’s latest comments are also significant as they come after the Supreme Court put a stay on decisions on any new surveys or petitions in temple-mosque disputes till next February.
This was after moves of lower courts on Sambhal and Ajmer Sharif brought the focus of political attacks on former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud for “opening the floodgates" for such petitions and surveys of various religious sites in the country.
First, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and then MPs from the Samajwadi Party have been targeting Chandrachud for a decision last year by a bench headed by him, which allowed an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi premises in Varanasi.
“That decision by Chandrachud was a bad one, a wrong one. It has opened the floodgates for more such surveys. The SC must take cognisance and stop such petitions and surveys in the country’s interest," the Samajwadi Party said.
The AIMPLB also issued a statement on the same lines, blaming the Chandrachud-led bench for “softening its stance" and allowing a survey at Gyanvapi. “During the Babri Masjid case, the SC referred to the Places of Worship Act, 1991, and said no new claims could be entertained after the enactment of this law that specified that the status of any place of worship as of August 15, 1947, shall remain unchanged and cannot be challenged," the AIMPLB said.
It then went on to refer to the Chandrachud bench judgement last year. “Yet, when the lower court accepted the claim on Gyanvapi mosque, the Muslim side approached the Supreme Court, arguing that such a claim should not be entertained given the Places of Worship Act. The court, however, softened its stance and allowed the survey, stating it did not violate the 1991 law," the AIMPLB said.
This has led to subsequent claims on Shahi Eidgah in Mathura, Teelewali Masjid in Lucknow, and now the Jama Masjid in Sambhal as well as Ajmer Sharif, says the statement.
The SC had to step in earlier this month to stop any such surveys till it decides on the matter.
Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks, however, seem at odds with what Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said later on Friday.
The Samajwadi Party, in a statement, said, “Mohan Bhagwat ji, your every advice and word is meaningless until you publicly condemn the actions of the BJP government/CM Yogi and stop them from doing so; until then, your statements will be considered mere speeches and drama."
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