Yogi breaks silence on row over Mohan Bhagwat's 'mandir-masjid' remark: 'Truth of Sambhal must come out'

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a strong message on Saturday, said that "the truth of Sambhal, Mathura and Kashi must come out". His remark comes against the backdrop of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's comment that the rising temple-mosque disputes in the country are "unacceptable".

Yogi clarified that Bhagwat's message was directed at those attempting to stir unnecessary controversies for cheap popularity.

In an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi on the sidelines of the Maha Kumbh, Yogi was asked about the Sambhal controversy in light of Bhagwat's remarks. He responded: "The journey from Somnath to Sambhal is a quest for truth, as published by the journals Panchjanya and Organizer in their respective editions."

Just last month, in December, Bhagwat delivered a lecture in Pune titled "India: The Vishwaguru," where he addressed similar concerns. He pointed out that following the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, some individuals mistakenly believe they can establish themselves as "leaders of Hindus" by creating disputes over temple-mosque issues. "This is unacceptable," he had said.

"We have lived in harmony for centuries. If we aspire to provide this harmony to the world, we must create a model of it ourselves. After the Ram Mandir's construction, some people think they can rise to prominence by raking up issues in new places. This approach is not acceptable," Bhagwat added.

The RSS chief's remarks come amidst a wave of demands for mosque surveys to uncover temples, with many of these cases now making their way to the courts.