PRAYAGRAJ: Reiterating his stand on the Sambhal Jama Masjid controversy, UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Friday said that any disputed structure should not be even called a mosque.
Speaking to a news channel in Prayagraj, Yogi said if there was any proof to support the presence of a temple beneath the Sambhal Jama Masjid - either historical, archaeological or based on faith - then the followers of Islam should respectfully hand back the structure without intervention of courts.
Referring to the Puranas, the CM said that the date of the reincarnation of Vishnu's 10th avatar, Kalki, had been predicted 5,000 years ago and at that time Islam did not even exist. Hindus believe that Sambhal will witness Vishnu's 10th avatar.
"If there was no Islam (then), how could there be a Jama Masjid there? The country cannot be run as per the Muslim League. If followers of Sanatan Dharm are staking claim to the structure, see what proof they have. These people are not even willing to listen to court. No disputed structure should be called a masjid. When we stop calling it one, people will also stop going to it," the CM said. He added that in Islam, no structure was needed to pray in, while it was a requirement under Sanatan Dharm.
On the significance of the Place of Worship Act, the CM said the court was looking into the matter and he was confident that 'faith would be respected'.
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