Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday, 10 July launched a sharp attack on the Opposition at a public meeting in Bikapur, Ayodhya, questioning whether any government — past or present — would ever permit the recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa inside the Jama Masjid. His remarks came while accusing previous administrations of allowing what he called a desecration of Hanuman Garhi and of systematically neglecting Ayodhya for decades.

What Yogi Adityanath Said

Addressing the gathering, Yogi Adityanath said, 'Ayodhya remained deprived of its benefits. Pilgrims visiting Ayodhya were unable to receive the blessings of the Saryu because there were no proper arrangements, and filth had become its identity. Those who talk about faith today even had namaz offered at our sacred Hanuman Garhi.'

He then posed a pointed rhetorical challenge: 'Just think about it. Imagine this: 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 Chief Minister was apparently referring to an incident from November 2003, when an attempt was allegedly made to offer namaz outside Hanuman Garhi — a temple in Ayodhya dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Local police had reportedly not granted permission for the prayers at the time.

Broader Attack on Previous Governments

Yogi Adityanath widened his criticism, alleging that Opposition-led governments had not only undermined religious sites but had also questioned the very existence of Lord Ram. 'They questioned the very existence of Lord Ram, fired bullets at Ram devotees and created an identity crisis for Ayodhya,' he said, adding that the construction of the Ram Temple was ultimately unstoppable.

He further alleged that previous governments had stirred disputes around multiple religious places — including the Kashi temple issue — and had responded to chants of 'Jai Shri Ram' with lathi charges and firing. He also claimed that attempts had been made to usurp land at Shringverpur — the site associated with the meeting of Lord Ram and Nishadraj Guh — in the name of the Waqf Board.

Development Projects Inaugurated

During the event, Yogi Adityanath inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for 217 development projects worth more than ₹432 crore for the Bikapur Assembly constituency. He described Ayodhya as the flagship example of his government's model combining infrastructure growth with heritage preservation.

The Chief Minister also highlighted that lakhs of devotees now visit Ayodhya every year since the construction of the Ram Temple, contrasting this with what he called decades of neglect under prior administrations. He noted that Opposition leaders had even resisted an international airport named after Maharshi Valmiki and night shelters named after Nishadraj Guh.

Political Context

Yogi Adityanath's remarks come amid an ongoing political battle over the cultural and religious identity of Ayodhya, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking to consolidate its narrative ahead of upcoming electoral cycles. Without naming specific individuals, the Chief Minister also alluded to recent controversies surrounding offerings made at the Ram Mandir, accusing certain political actors of exploiting matters of faith for electoral gain.

Critics from the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Indian National Congress (INC) have not yet issued a formal response to Friday's remarks. The BJP's 'double-engine government' framing — referring to aligned state and central administrations — remains central to Yogi Adityanath's political messaging in Uttar Pradesh.