• Source:JND
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Hours after UP CM Yogi Adityanath called it "unfortunate" to refer to the Gyanvapi as a mosque, Samajwadi Party leader Ravidas Mehrotra responded by alleging that the Chief Minister disrespects court orders and is attempting to distract the public from more significant issues.

Mehrotra further criticised the BJP government for attempting to distract the public from pressing issues like inflation, unemployment, and corruption, claiming that the government is ignorant of these problems.

“The matter of Gyanvapi mosque is in the court. Both the parties should accept and respect the order of the court. The people are struggling due to inflation, unemployment and corruption. And the government doesn't care about these issues," said Mehrotra. 

Earlier on Saturday, during the inauguration of an international seminar on "Contribution of Nath Panth in Building a Harmonious Society" at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University, CM remarked, "It is unfortunate that some people refer to Gyanvapi as a mosque while it is the embodiment of Lord Vishwanath himself."

Reacting to CM Yogi Adityanath’s remarks, SP spokesperson Abbas Haidar told PTI, ”It seems that he (Yogi Adityanath) does not give respect to the court. The matter is pending in the court. It is unfortunate that the chief minister has taken the oath of the Constitution, but it seems he is not giving due respect to the court.”

Haidar accused the BJP of dividing society for political gain and claimed that the party has neglected public issues. 

”For his vested political interests, he is dividing the society. The mandate given by the public to the BJP also indicates that they have not spoken on issues related to people,” Haidar alleged. 

However, UP BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla supported CM’s statement by saying, ”Historic, archaeological and spiritual evidence categorically indicate that Gyanvapi is a temple.”

The Gyanvapi dispute has been the focus of an extended legal battle, with the Hindu side asserting that the Gyanvapi mosque was allegedly constructed on the ruins of an existing temple, while the Muslim side disputes this claim.