NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that “one day, the entire world will wear Bhagwa,” referring to the saffron attire associated with Hinduism and Sanatan tradition. He made the remark while speaking at an event in Lucknow organized by RSS-linked weeklies Organiser and Panchjanya .
Addressing the gathering at the event titled ‘Manthan: Kumbh and Beyond’ , Adityanath said, “The world may think whatever it wants about me, but I indeed wear the ‘bhagwa’. This is my identity, and it is also the identity of our Sanatan tradition. I take immense pride in it and mark my words—one day, the entire world will wear it.”
The chief minister also spoke on the ongoing Sambhal mosque controversy, saying that forcibly seizing someone’s faith and trampling over their beliefs is “unacceptable,” especially when “we know the truth about Sambhal.” He said that Sambhal predates Islam, citing that a Vishnu temple there was destroyed in 1526.
“Sambhal has been mentioned in scriptures that are 5,000 years old. They contain references to Lord Vishnu’s future incarnation. Islam, on the other hand, emerged only 1,400 years ago. I am talking about something that predates Islam by at least 2,000 years,” Adityanath said, asserting that Sambhal represents “historical truth.”
He further said that the evidence of these events has existed for centuries, pointing out, “Remember, in 1526, a temple of Lord Vishnu in Sambhal was demolished. Two years later, in 1528, the Ram temple in Ayodhya was destroyed.”
The chief minister added that both temple demolitions “were carried out by the same person.”
Since last November, tensions have been rising in Sambhal following a court-ordered survey at a mosque believed by some to be the site of a demolished temple.
During his address, Adityanath emphasized that he respects all communities and sects. “I am a Yogi. I respect every sect, community, and form of worship. If you visit Gorakhnath Peeth, you will see that there is no discrimination against anyone. People of all castes, regions, and sects sit together and eat from the same plate, and all sadhus, regardless of their religious affiliations, have meals together and receive equal respect,” he said.
Adityanath also said that Sambhal has always been a pilgrimage site, mentioning that it had 68 sacred places, out of which 18 have been “reclaimed”. “There were 19 ancient wells, which we have revived. After 56 years, for the first time, there was the ritual offering of water at Lord Shiva’s temple in Sambhal,” he added.
He criticized opposition parties, questioning their role in preserving cultural and religious heritage. “What were these so-called leaders doing all this time? They have only been busy dividing people in the name of religion and caste,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Adityanath had said, “If anyone wants to read the Friday prayers, they can do so at their home. It’s not necessary for them to go to mosque,” adding, “And even if they want to go to the mosque, then they must not avoid colours. The police official was telling them the same.”
Adiyanath made this remark while backing Sambhal CO Anuj Chaudhary’s statement. Chaudhary, while talking to reporters, said, “Holi is a festival that comes once a year, whereas Friday prayers take place 52 times a year. If anyone feels uncomfortable with the colours of Holi, they should stay indoors on that day.”
Sambhal mosque dispute
On November 19, 2024, the Sambhal civil judge senior division ordered an urgent survey of a mosque after considering an application from some Hindu activists. The activists claimed that the Islamic religious site, built during the reign of Mughal emperor Babur, was originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu’s prophesied avatar, Kalki.
Following the court’s directive, a survey team led by advocate commissioner Ramesh Raghav conducted an initial inspection of the mosque within a few hours. On the morning of November 24, the team arrived for a second round of photography and videography.
However, violence erupted that day in the lanes near the Shahi Jama Masjid during the tense second survey, resulting in the deaths of at least five Muslim men.