Gonda (UP), Jul 21 (PTI) Former Lok Sabha MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh on Tuesday said that he has no objection to tendering an apology if his recent remarks about the offering of namaz at Ayodhya’s Hanumangarhi have hurt anyone’s sentiments.
Speaking to reporters at his residence here, Singh clarified the matter by explaining that he was asked whether namaz was offered on the stairs of Hanumangarhi, to which he had replied that it was not.
He acknowledged, “I should have clarified at that time that namaz was not offered on the steps, rather within the 52-bigha complex or at the abode of a saint.” Singh added that the controversy arose due to his incomplete response.
He said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s statement is correct, and the views expressed by the seers of Ayodhya are also valid.
He clarified that his own statement was made in a specific context and was not intended to contradict the chief minister.
The former MP added that if his remarks gave an impression that he was challenging the chief minister or if they hurt anyone’s sentiments, he apologised for it.
Singh mentioned that he is a devotee of Lord Hanuman and shares a deep emotional bond with Ayodhya.
He also said that in his statement regarding the construction of Hanumangarhi, he acknowledged having said that a Muslim had commissioned its construction, but noted that this was an incomplete statement.
According to him, historically, Shuja-ud-Daulah had granted a lease of 52 bighas of land to Naga sadhus in the 18th century and assisted in the construction work. This was later erroneously linked to the construction of Hanumangarhi itself.
On July 17, Singh on Friday had said claims that namaz had ever been offered at the Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya were “factually incorrect”.
Speaking to reporters in Gonda, Singh, who was associated with the Ayodhya Ram temple movement, was asked about Chief Minister Adityanath’s recent remarks on the issue.
“No, namaz was never offered there. That claim is wrong,” he said.
The former MP had also claimed that Hanumangarhi, a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman in Ayodhya, was “constructed by a Muslim man” and that stones installed by him were still part of the temple structure, though he said he could not recall the person’s name.
The controversy stems from Chief Minister Adityanath’s remarks during his Ayodhya visit on July 10, when he slammed the criticism by opposition leaders over the alleged donation theft at Ram temple, saying they were faking concern for faith given that they had allowed namaz at the steps of Hanumangarhi. PTI COR NAV KSS KSS
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