Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, on Wednesday, reiterated his charge against the Bharatiya Janata Party on the Gyanvapi mosque row, alleging that the ruling party was “sponsoring” the dispute to create a rift in society and instill a sense of fear in the minority community.
Akhilesh Yadav alleged that at a time when inflation and unemployment were rampant, the BJP was busy destroying the “Ganga-Jamuni fabric” of Uttar Pradesh by raising issues like the Gyanvapi case.
"When it comes to the Gyanvapi mosque row, the BJP is sponsoring people and giving them financial aid to create a rift between Hindus and Muslims. The BJP works towards breaking the Ganga-Jamuni fabric of the state. I want to know, there is inflation today, youth are unemployed, electricity tariffs are rising, hospitals have no medicine, why is there no debate on this? At this time, you are raising Gyanvapi (issue)?" he asked.
The controversy surrounding the Gyanvapi mosque erupted after a Varanasi court on April 26 directed a five-member Archaeological Survey Of India team to study the entire premises of the complex, the cost of which will be borne by the Uttar Pradesh government. The order is based on Vijay Shankar Rastogi's plea which has sought permission for daily worship and observance of rituals of Goddess Shringar Gauri, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman and Nandi located at the back of the western wall of the Gyanvapi mosque.