"No Mosque Allowed, Muslims Must Leave Ayodhya": BJP’s Vinay Katiyar:

Lucknow: BJP leader and former MP Vinay Katiyar has stated that a new mosque will not be allowed in Ayodhya in place of the Babri Masjid. He added that Muslims should relocate from Ayodhya to other districts in Uttar Pradesh beyond the Sarayu river. According to Katiyar, Ayodhya belongs solely to Ram.

His comments come in response to the Ayodhya Development Authority’s refusal to approve the plan to construct a mosque on the 5 acres of land allocated by the UP government in Dhannipur, following the Supreme Court verdict.

“What business do Muslims have in Ayodhya? Only the Ram Mandir matters here. Muslims should move to districts like Gonda and Basti. No mosque will be allowed in Ramnagar, Ayodhya,” said Katiyar, a former president of Bajrang Dal. Katiyar was one of the main leaders of the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation that led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid and has previously delivered multiple hate speeches targeting Muslims.

Katiyar’s remarks have sparked strong protests. Faizabad MP and Samajwadi Party leader Avadhesh Kumar criticized the comments, saying they reflect frustration over the Modi government sidelining senior BJP leader Vinay Katiyar. Political observers suggest that Katiyar is attempting a comeback in UP BJP politics through statements aimed at inciting communal sentiment.

Meanwhile, Iqbal Ansari, one of the principal petitioners in the Ayodhya case, told the mosque trust that there is no need to respond to Katiyar’s remarks, describing them as purely political.