SP chief should advocate for removing Mathura Eidgah to prove Lord Krishna's devotion: UP Deputy CM

Varanasi (UP), Jul 16 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said on Thursday that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav should advocate for removing the Eidgah adjoining the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura if he wants to portray himself as a devotee of Lord Krishna. Addressing reporters here, Maurya said the dispute relating to the Eidgah adjoining the Krishna Janmabhoomi was pending before a court. "Yadav should speak in favour of its removal if he wishes to project himself as a devotee of Lord Krishna," he said. Referring to Kashi, Maurya said the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor had been built, but a "structure" still stood adjacent to the temple. He asserted that, like the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Vishwanath temple would also be developed. Reacting to Maurya's remarks, Samajwadi Party national spokesperson Manoj Rai Dhoop Chandi said the deputy chief minister's statement was "illegal" because the Krishna Janmabhoomi matter is sub judice. He said making such statements on an issue pending before a court was not legally appropriate, demanding that Uttar Pradesh Governor take action against Maurya, including his dismissal from the state cabinet. Rai alleged that Maurya was making unwarranted remarks against Akhilesh Yadav out of political frustration after his defeat in the Sirathu Assembly constituency. PTI CORR ABN ASD ASD