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Muslims Should Accept Historical Mistake: Yogi On Gyanvapi Mosque Row

By LokMarg 31st July 2023

Amidst the controversy over the Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that labelling Gyanvapi as a mosque complex will only lead to controversy and that the Muslim side should accept its “historical mistake” and offer a solution.

“If we call it a mosque, there will be a dispute. We should just call it Gyanvapi. I feel whoever has been blessed with sight by God, that person should see. What is a trishul (trident) doing inside a mosque? We did not put it there.

There is security inside, there are Central forces are There is a jyotirlinga, dev pratimas (idols),” Yogi Adityanath said in a podcast interview with ANI Editor Smita Prakash aired today.

Gyanvapi: Caveat Filed In Allahabad HC Over Direction For ASI Survey
Adityanath, who is also the head priest of Gorakhnath Mutt in Gorakhpur said that physical, scriptural and other archaeological evidence inside the mosque should not be overlooked.

“You can twist history but not the historic evidence that the walls (of Gyanvapi) are screaming and saying,” the chief minister said.

“I feel that a proposal should also come from the Muslim side accepting that there has been a historical mistake and that they should come up with a solution,” Yogi Adityanath said.

The Allahabad High Court is expected to give a verdict on a petition against a lower court order for a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India inside the mosque complex, except the ‘wuzukhana’ (fountain).

Varanasi Court Allows Scientific Survey Of Gyanvapi Mosque Complex

A ruling on the petition is likely on August 3.

The matter took centrestage when on May 16, last year, during the court-mandated survey, a structure — claimed to be a “Shivling” by the Hindu side and a “fountain” by the Muslim side — was found in the mosque premises.

Meanwhile in the interview with ANI, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said that he will appeal to the Muslims community that “today we should be talking about development.”

“We can all see the plight of Pakistan. Those who sow thorns for others will themselves suffer the pain. Whatever is happening in Pakistan today is the result of what they sowed. Today Pakistan is riddled with hunger and is battling its misdeeds. That is why we should not repeat our previous mistakes,” Adityanath said.

Meanwhile, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi has lashed out at Adityanath’s remarks on the Gyanvapi issue stating that it’s a “judicial overreach”.

The AIMIM chief, a staunch critic of Yogi said that despite knowing that the matter is sub-judice he is making such a controversial statement which is directly a judicial overreach.

“Chief minister Yogi knows that the Muslim side has opposed the ASI survey in Allahabad High Court and the judgement will be delivered in a few days, still, he gave such a controversial statement, this is judicial overreach,” said Owaisi. (ANI)

Ayodhya Tourism To Rise 10 times After Ram Temple: Yogi

By LokMarg 18th December 2022

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that tourism to the city will increase by 10 times after the Ram temple in Ayodhya is constructed.

UP CM also said that the state which is number one in terms of domestic tourism is the safest state in the country for travelers.
“Uttar Pradesh is a state with infinite possibilities in terms of tourism. All the major centers of religious, spiritual, and eco-tourism are present here. Today Uttar Pradesh is number one in terms of domestic tourism. In 2024, when the Shri Ram temple will be ready in Ayodhya, tourism will increase 10 times,” Yogi said while addressing tour operators from all over the country at the 37th Annual Convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO) on Sunday.

Yogi also claimed that at least one crore tourists visited Varanasi in the month of Sawan.

“We have Kashi (Varanasi) which is the oldest city in the world, and the cultural and spiritual capital of India. One year has passed since the inauguration of the Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham. Earlier, usually, one crore tourists used to visit Varanasi in a year but, this year, one crore tourists came to Varanasi in the month of Sawan alone,” Adityanath said.

The Chief Minister said that apart from Varanasi, Ayodhya is the center of faith of every Sanatani where everyone aspires to come here once in their lifetime.

“The construction of the grand temple is going on on a war footing in Ayodhya. Along with Deepotsav, many works have been done for tourism development in Ayodhya. Infrastructure development is going on at the cost of Rs 30,000 crore. When the construction and development works of Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya will be completed in 2024, tourism to the city will increase 10 times,” Yogi said.

“Similarly, we also have Mathura, Vrindavan, Gokul, and Barsana. Whether indigenous or foreign, all have a connection with Mathura. Along with the spiritual development there, you all must have felt the physical development as well. Infrastructure development works are going on for the development of Mathura-Vrindavan by the central and state governments at a cost of Rs 25,000-Rs 30,000 crores”, CM Yogi pointed out.

He further said that apart from facilitating investment in the state, the UP Government was also providing lakhs of employment opportunities to the youth.

“We can contribute to increasing the GDP of not only the state but also the country by inviting domestic and foreign tourists to UP. The state government will fully support you in whatever meaningful effort you make,” he pointed out.

Citing the example of the 2019 Kumbh in Prayagraj, Adityanath said 24 crore people came to the city to attend it and it was one of the best-organized events.

The chief minister also mentioned the government’s plans to develop the Ramayana, Krishna, and Buddhist circuits.

The chief minister assured tour operators of the safety of tourists and better connectivity.

On the occasion, the chief minister unveiled a coffee table book based on Bundelkhand.

Ministers Arun Kumar Saxena, Dayashankar Singh, Principal Secretary Tourism Mukesh Meshram, and office bearers of the ITOA were also present in the program. (ANI)

Yogi Invokes Civilisational Link At Kashi-Tamil Sangamam Event

By LokMarg 16th December 2022

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said the country saw the revival of the centuries-old bond of knowledge and the ancient civilizational link between the North and the South, “strengthening the vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”.

“As Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the cultural and spiritual extravaganza last month, during the holy month of Kartik, the entire country witnessed the revival of the centuries-old bond of knowledge and ancient civilizational linkage between the North and the South, strengthening the vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat,” Yogi said at the closing ceremony of the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.

Drawing parallels between Kashi and Tamil Nadu and sending out a message of unity irrespective of regional divides, the Uttar Pradesh CM further said, “Both UP and Tamil Nadu are promoting traditional enterprises and are working to strengthen local artisans and craftsmen to realize the goal of a self-reliant India.”

Beginning his address with the proclamation of ‘Vanakkam Kashi’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’, the CM welcomed the guests from Tamil Nadu. “In the last month, 12 different groups from Tamil Nadu have visited Prayagraj and Ayodhya to get a sense of the religious significance of Uttar Pradesh,” he added.

He said the holy Jyotirlinga established by Lord Shri Ram at Shri Rameshwaram and Lord Adi Vishweshwar in Kashi are worshipped as holy Jyotirlingas. Both these Jyotirlingas are central to the relationship between Kashi and Tamil Nadu.

“Kashi remains the center of religion, culture, and spiritual consciousness of India. Similarly, Tamil Nadu has been the center of knowledge, art, and culture since ancient times. All elements of Indian culture are preserved in Kashi and Tamil Nadu,” he added. (ANI)

Yogi Launches Rs 1,000 Cr Road Projects For Ayodhya

By LokMarg 3rd December 2022

The Yogi Adityanath government has approved Rs 1,000 crore road projects for providing better connectivity to Ayodhya where Ram Temple is being built.

These initiatives include land acquisition for road connectivity, rehabilitation of buildings, shop owners, and construction of buildings. With this, all the roads leading to Ram Janmabhoomi will be widened and beautified, creating a beautiful ambience for pilgrims who travel there to meet Lord Ramlala
Keeping in mind the convenience of the devotees, a 0.566 km four-lane is being built from Sugriva Fort to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Marg, which has been named Janmabhoomi Path. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave his approval in a high-level meeting for the development project, which will cost approximately Rs 83.33 crore in total, including land purchases and other projects.

In addition, Rs 3.90 crore and Rs 27.17 crore have been made available for the construction work. At present, 39 percent of the work has been completed whereas, the work of the pipeline for sewer-water supply by the Jal Nigam is going at a rapid pace.

Utility duct and RCC drain construction are also underway. From Shringar Haat to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Marg, a four-lane stretch measuring 0.742 kilometres is also being constructed. The name of its route is Bhakti Path. For its expansion, a number of Rs 62.79 crore has been approved for the purchase of land and other construction work, against which an amount of Rs 32.10 crore has been released.

Altogether 350 shops that were in the way of the construction have received compensation in this case. While 290 shops have been demolished for widening, action is underway on the remaining. This road is being widened to 13 metres, including the 5.50-meter width of the CC road.

Sahadatganj to Naya Ghat Marg road will be known as Ram Path

A 12.940 km long, four-lane road from Sahadatganj to Naya Ghat marg is being built and has been given the name Ram Path in order to facilitate access to the Lord Shri Ram Janmbhoomi temple for devotees.

An amount of Rs 797.69 crore has been approved for the widening of this road, from the purchase of land to other construction work, against which Rs 290 crore has been released. About 40765 square meters of land are needed for Ram Path, against which 4773 square meters of land have been acquired. (ANI)

Mainpuri Election Scene Heats Up As Yogi Set To Enter Campaign

By LokMarg 28th November 2022

The heat quotient of the high stakes Mainpuri elections is going go up further as UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath enters the campaign with his first public meeting in Mainpuri scheduled to take place on November 28.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already unleashed its army of MLAs and ministers to fight the Samajwadi party in its traditional bastion.
CM Yogi is going to address a public meeting at Narsingh Yadav Inter College, Karhal. It is expected that Yogi Adityanath will try to influence the minds of the people of Mainpuri continuously till 3 December.

The tension of Akhilesh Yadav, who is facing political heat in the Mainpuri by-election, is going to increase after the arrival of Yogi. In fact, CM Yogi Adityanath is starting his first public meeting from the constituency of Akhilesh Yadav. In such a situation, the SP President will have to put more emphasis on Karhal, which is considered an SP stronghold.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya held two meetings in Mainpuri. Deputy CM Brijesh Pathak has been holding meetings in Mainpuri for two consecutive days to turn voter mood in BJP’s favor. Apart from this, Party President Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh and General Secretary Organization Dharampal Singh are leaving no stone unturned to influence the workers.

The Lok Sabha by-election in Mainpuri is a high-profile one. The seat is witnessing a main contest between BJP candidate former MP Raghuraj Singh Shakya and Dimple Yadav, the wife of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav. Earlier this by-election was considered easy for Dimple Yadav.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has changed all the pre-poll predictions by fielding veteran leader Raghuraj Singh Shakya here.

At present, both parties are putting their full force into the campaign. Late Mulayam Singh Yadav was a continuous MP from here. However, in the last Lok Sabha elections, Mulayam’s victory margin was very low. Since then, it was believed that after Mulayam, Mainpuri would not be easy for the SP.

This became clear only in the by-elections that were held after the death of Mulayam Singh Yadav. If political pundits are to be believed, now the matter is 50-50. During a conversation in the Jaswantnagar assembly, an elderly voter admitted that this time the fight is tough. This is the reason Samajwadi Party which used to hold one or two meetings in Mainpuri and only local workers used to ask for votes, is doing a much bigger campaign.

Presently the situation is that Akhilesh Yadav himself is visiting the same village many times in his assembly. Apart from them, all the big leaders of SP including Dimple Yadav, Shivpal Yadav, and Ramgopal Yadav are campaigning vigorously.

Since the nomination, party candidate Raghuraj Singh Shakya has been campaigning intensively from 7 am to 10 pm. A local BJP leader Bharat Deep, said, ” Our candidate has visited most of the Mainpuri Lok Sabha by going street by street. They say that the public has now made up its mind for a change. The support of the people of Mainpuri is with him.” (ANI)

Yogi Gives Ear To People’s Grievances During Janata Darshan

By LokMarg 6th November 2022

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during the ‘Janata Darshan’ organized in Gorakhpur on Sunday, gave directions to officials to ensure speedy and satisfactory resolution of all grievances and that no kind of laxity should occur in carrying out works of public welfare.

After hearing the grievances of thousands of people during the Janata Darshan, CM Yogi Adityanath said, “Ration cards should be made available to the needy. Those suffering from serious illnesses should avail free treatment, medicines, and examination facilities in government hospitals. Moreover, in case of serious illnesses, the government will provide funds to the needy upon receiving estimates immediately.”
The Chief Minister during his interaction of about two and a half hours with the complainants, himself reached to the people sitting on the chairs. After hearing about their problems, he assured them that all their problems would be resolved. In the Janata Darshan, a large number of the complainants were women, especially from the minority community.

On the occasion, he also assured to a woman belonging to the minority community of providing her with a proper employment opportunity as well as directed the authorities concerned to get her ration card made. He also assured another woman from a minority community of all possible financial assistance for medical treatment saying, “No medical treatment will stop due to lack of money. The government will provide funds to the needy upon receiving estimates immediately.”

CM also directed officers to ensure speedy and satisfactory resolution of land disputes. “No encroachment should be there on government’s or poor people’s properties. Those found guilty should be dealt with strictly,” he said.

The Chief Minister assured every complainant of quick and satisfactory disposal of their issues. While interacting with the children who came with their families to the Janata Darshan, the Chief Minister gave his blessings to all along with giving them, sweets.

He also told the parents of children that the government is prioritizing the quality education of children by providing them with school bags, books, proper uniforms, shoe-stockings, and stationery. (ANI)

Slaughterhouse Diary II: A School Reborn

By LokMarg Publishing 24th May 2018

Safia Rafeeq is a schoolteacher at Dhanaura Junior High School, Amroha. Safia is gladdened by the closure of an abattoir near the school. She hopes that the current academic session will mark the return of students who had dropped out due to health and hygiene issues caused by the unbearable stench.

The job of a government schoolteacher is considered a godsend by most women in Uttar Pradesh, but when I was posted at Dhanaura Junior High School in 2013, I would ask God what sin had I committed to get here. When I joined this school, it was impossible to stay inside the premises without a wet cloth wrapped over your nostrils because of the unmindful disposal of the carcasses and lack of attention to by the slaughterhouse.

The situation was even worse for the young (a junior high school in Uttar Pradesh enrolls students up to Class VIII only). They would have recurring respiratory problems and it was not uncommon for the students to complain of giddiness and nausea. Younger students would faint in the school all time; vomiting episodes were common too. We had no other option but to grant students leave generously, even if it meant poor attendance and keeping behind the curriculum.

Health came first. While I gradually adopted to the new environs, and continued to discover ways to beat the stench, I also kept trying to get myself transferred from this school. It didn’t take long for the dropout rates to go up. Those parents who could afford, transferred their children to other schools while several others decided to keep them away from Dhanaura.

How could I blame them? Even teachers had second thoughts of staying in the job! Few in the municipal administration could be bothered. By early last year, we were left with barely 50-60 students in the entire school; normally, one single class section in a government school has such strength. Things worsened when we noticed that even the groundwater in the area was contaminated. The hand-pump water inside the school became smelly and became reddish.

By summer, the school strength dwindled further. Desperate to set things straight, we approached NGOs for help who arranged potable water for students from other areas as well as face-masks to bear the foul air. But that’s all we could do; even the involvment of the gram pradhan (village head) did not make our voice heard where it could have helped. You can imagine the sense of relief when I came to know that the District Magistrate had ordered closure of the slaughterhouse.

I silently said my Namaz-e-Shukrana (prayers of thanks). It has been a year now, and the stench is gone. Things are still not completely normal as the groundwater is still a concern. But the student strength has shown improvement. The new session is in process and students are lining up for admission. The building has been whitewashed; there’s optimism in the air.

I cannot thank the Yogi government enough for acting this fast. As if by divine intervention, a doctor who runs a small clinic next to our school has assured parents of free medical aid to students in case of an emergency. The local legislator recently visited our school and assured the children that things will only go better from here onward. Insha Allah!

More From the Slaughterhouse Diary

Part I: ‘Yogi govt butchered my job’

Part III: Blossoms of Hope

-With editorial assistance from Lokmarg

Slaughterhouse Diary I: Pushed to pulling

By LokMarg Publishing 23rd May 2018

is a former employee of AQ Frozen Foods Pvt. Ltd, an abattoir in Uttar Pradesh’s Amroha district now closed down for various irregularities as per a state order. Alam is 50, and has to now earn his living as a rickshaw puller in Amroha town.

I can never forget the fateful morning of July 28 last year, when I went to the factory and found the gates sealed, along with a notice pasted on it from the DM (district magistrate) Sahib’s office. Colleagues told me that local Bharatiya Janata Party leaders had complained about some irregularities in the abattoir to get even with Bahujan Samaj Party leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui (now expelled from the party, Siddiqui was allegedly a part owner of the unit).

The Yogi government was quick to oblige. My fate too was sealed. When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Nearly 400 men lost their livelihood at one stroke of Yogi’s ‘knife’. I want to ask you who is the real butcher? Now, at 50, I am forced to pull a rickshaw in the town area, which hardly matches the income and comfort of the life in the company.

In my five years at the slaughterhouse, I had learnt the art of skinning the animals. I was taking home about Rs 5,000 every month. My friends told me I could earn double the amount if I proved my skills at abattoirs in bigger towns. My three sons also chipped in with odd jobs. We lived a decent life, including weekly off days to be with family. Now a day off from work means loss of precious earnings. Already my income is half of what I earned in the factory. I make Rs 100-150 a day.

Nobody pays generously to a rickshaw puller in a place like Amroha. The work is back-breaking labour of 12 hours, in harsh sun or bitter cold. What else can I do? I am illiterate and have no skills to find another job. Some of my colleagues who lost their jobs took to carpenter shops here but with too many of us on the road, jobs are few and far between. Some (of the ex-workers) have migrated to different states to work as farm labour, but they are young men with small families.

I have a large family (three sons and two daughters-in-law), it will be difficult for us to move. It is important that I stay here. Only good thing is that hard times have made my sons more responsible. They now take their odd jobs seriously and contribute towards the expenses of the family. My wife too, after her household work, uses a cot to lay out pan masala and tobacco sachets for sale.

The earning is not much, but every penny helps. I often run into my former boss at the factory, a kind-hearted man. He tells me to remain positive as the Allahabad (High) Court is seized of the matter and, Insha Allah, the factory will re-open soon. One thing has still not changed from the old times. After calling it a day, I visit the chai shop outside the factory to catch up with my old colleagues.

There, over warm tea in small plastic cups, we remember our heydays in the factory. Some have left the town, but there are still less than a dozen of us who still meet up in the evening and pray together for the re-opening of the abattoir.

More From the Slaughterhouse Diary

Part II: A School Reborn

Part III: Blossoms of Hope

-With editorial assistance from Lokmarg

Slaughterhouse Diary III: Blossoms of Hope

By LokMarg 23rd May 2018

, a 55-year-old mango-grower from Dhanaura village in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, saw his trees go barren because of effluents from a nearby abattoir. His annual income dwindled from a few lakhs of rupees to nothing. Today, with the closure of the slaughterhouse, he looks forward to revived fortunes.

It was almost a decade ago, in 2009, when we first saw this slaughterhouse coming up in our village. Behanji (Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati) was the chief minister then I remember, and many of us felt it would create jobs for the local youth and improve the roads linking our village to the highway. Our optimism was shortlived, for we soon realized the slaughterhouse had only brought misfortune.

It was not just my mango orchard but all the farmland falling within a radius of 3 km of the slaughterhouse was affected. Grain crops, fruits and vegetables: all suffered in quality and yield. The following season, my trees stopped flowering and bearing fruit. We sought help and were told that the chimney of the ‘butcherkhana’ spewed toxic and chemical-laden fumes.

This had a disastrous effect on the crops. We also ran from pillar to post, raising the alarm on this environmental disaster in our lives, but nobody cared. The owner of the slaughterhouse had deep pockets and high reach in the establishment. My income dried up. I left the orchard to the mercy of Allah and diverted my focus to our fields that were far away from the factory.

I managed to keep the kitchen going at home. With a change of guard in 2012 (when Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Government came to power), we saw hope as the Yadav family had roots in farming. We went to Lucknow several times but all we got were false assurances. Apparently, an ex-minister and SP leader was a partner in the factory.

The problems only grew from there, affecting not just the air but the groundwater as well. Our water pumps started pulling up dirty- foul-smelling water. It had become quite unbearable. In August 2014, we organised a huge panchayat in Dhanaura where hundreds of farmers gathered. Our protest continued for 95 days, and the authorities finally woke up and took note.

The factory was sealed by the administration. It didn’t last. The owners of the slaughterhouse approached the High Court and the closure notice was stayed. I have three children and during this time, all were studying in Meerut. My children would often advise me to sell all the land we had and move out. But I am a firm believer in Allah, and decided to wait.

A farmer will sell his land only when all options run out. The Yogi government was an answer to our prayers. In less than two months of his assuming power, district officials sealed this house of evil. The problems have not gone immediately, but did we didn’t expect them to.

In time, the land would heal itself, I knew. Then, one day, for the first time in the last eight years, I saw blossoms on some of my mango trees. I cried. I am thankful to Allah and confident now that my good fortune will return.

More From the Slaughterhouse Diary

Part I: ‘Yogi govt butchered my job’

Part II: A School Reborn

-With editorial assistance from Lokmarg