Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday, 10 July reignited the long-standing Hanuman Garhi controversy during his first visit to Ayodhya since the Ram temple donation theft row surfaced, accusing previous governments of allowing namaz to be offered on the steps of the sacred temple and challenging the Opposition over what he described as a selective approach to matters of faith.

Key Remarks at the Ayodhya Event

Addressing a public gathering, CM Yogi said, 'Those who talk about faith today even had namaz offered at our sacred Hanuman Garhi. Just think about it. Could anyone ever recite the Hanuman Chalisa inside the Jama Masjid? Could any government, the Samajwadi Party, or the Congress make that happen? If not, then why was the sin of having namaz offered on the steps of Hanuman Garhi allowed? Who was responsible for this?'

The remarks came even as the Chief Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 217 development projects worth over ₹432 crore in the city. However, it was his attack on the Opposition over Hanuman Garhi that dominated the address and drew immediate attention.

Ayodhya's Transformation Under BJP Rule

CM Yogi outlined a sweeping account of Ayodhya's infrastructure overhaul under the current government, contrasting it with what he called decades of neglect. He said, 'For a long time, Ayodhya remained neglected. There were no roads, no electricity, and no water, even though the Saryu River flowed right beside it.'

He credited the city's turnaround to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the launch of the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport — which he said the Samajwadi Party had opposed — and Ayodhya's designation as one of the country's select solar cities. 'Prime Minister Modi said that Ayodhya is the capital of the Suryavansh, so the capital of the Suryavansh should be illuminated by the light of the Sun God itself,' Yogi said.

He also highlighted the development of Ram Ki Paidi, the grand aarti on the banks of the Saryu River, and the city's emergence as a major spiritual, cultural, and tourism hub.

Bhadarsa to Be Renamed Bharatpur-Bharatkund

In a significant announcement during the event, CM Yogi declared that Bhadarsa would be renamed Bharatpur-Bharatkund in honour of Bharat, the younger brother of Lord Ram. The renaming is consistent with the Yogi government's broader pattern of rechristening places with historical or religious Hindu significance.

Political Context: Donation Theft Row Looms Large

The visit came amid the ongoing controversy over the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya — a row that has put the state government on the defensive. Critics argue that CM Yogi's sharp remarks on Hanuman Garhi served to shift the political narrative away from the temple trust controversy. Notably, by invoking a decades-old religious grievance, the Chief Minister appeared to be redirecting public attention toward Opposition-era governance.

This is not the first time the Hanuman Garhi episode has been raised in Uttar Pradesh politics; it has periodically resurfaced as a flashpoint in debates over religious sites and communal governance. The Samajwadi Party and Congress are yet to formally respond to Friday's remarks.

What Comes Next

With the ₹432 crore worth of development projects now formally launched, Ayodhya's infrastructure push is set to continue. However, the political temperature around both the donation theft row and the renewed Hanuman Garhi remarks is likely to keep the city at the centre of Uttar Pradesh's political discourse in the days ahead.