Gyanvapi shouldn't be called a mosque: Yogi Adityanath

Lucknow: In an interview three days before the Allahabad High Court's impending verdict on whether the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) should survey the Gyanvapi complex, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stated that the structure should not be referred to as a mosque to avoid controversy. Adityanath emphasized, "It is Gyanvapi, and we must call it that. Calling it a masjid would lead to controversy. The matter is currently under court scrutiny, and a decision will naturally be reached based on historical, physical, and scriptural evidence." He urged the Muslim community to avoid repeating "old mistakes" and voluntarily acknowledge the "historical mistake" related to the site, seeking a solution. The Chief Minister asserted that there is substantial evidence in the Gyanvapi complex to establish its "original status." He questioned the presence of a trishul (trident) inside, claiming, "We had not placed it there."