Yogi calls Sambhal a sacred symbol of Hindu faith, vows to restore its heritage
Yogi Adityanath
on Thursday declared Sambhal "a sacred symbol of Hindu faith".
The CM said violence unleashed by foreign invaders was suppressed in history books and accused the invaders of desecrating and destroying Sambhal's Sanatan history — the city is believed to be the birthplace of Kalki, the 10th avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Yogi warned that any malicious attempts to undermine Sanatan Dharma would be firmly crushed and told people to never forgive Congress and SP for having sinned against Sambhal.
The CM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 222 development projects worth Rs 659 crore in Sambhal. He claimed that the town once boasted 68 pilgrimage sites, 19 sacred wells, and traditional 24- and 84-kos parikrama routes, all of which were destroyed by invaders. The holy sites were taken over, and a deliberate attempt was made to erase the truth, he said.
Referring to this as a "malicious conspiracy," Yogi vowed that all 68 shrines and 19 wells would be restored.
"Just like Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar revived Kashi Vishwanath and Somnath temples, we will initiate a similar renaissance for Sambhal's heritage. True development lies in preserving legacy while shaping the golden dreams of today and tomorrow," he said. The projects launched on Thursday, he said, covered education, vocational training, drinking water, roads, Anganwadi centres, and infrastructure for composite schools.
Yogi highlighted Sambhal's spiritual significance, calling it the sacred land of both Vishnu and Shiva, which found mention in scriptures like the Shrimad Bhagavat, Skanda, and Vishnu Puranas as the birthplace of Lord Kalki in Kaliyug. Attacking those who label Hindu traditions as controversial, the CM said that it was their own background that was controversial, and therefore they viewed heritage with the same lens.
He threatened that any attempt to undermine Sanatan Dharma would be "firmly crushed" and those who desecrate Sanatan Dharma's holy sites would "pay the price."
He announced that if Varanasi and Ayodhya could be revived, Sambhal too would be restored to its original form, and his govt would rejuvenate Lord Kalki's shrine and Harihar Dham. "Congress orchestrated mass killings here, and SP, as its disciple, shielded the murderers.
Never forget their sins against Sambhal. They hid the truth of post-independence massacres out of fear of losing their vote bank. We are not here for vote bank politics; we are here to preserve our heritage.
Those who shame India and its values will be taught a lesson their future generations won't forget," the CM said.
Highlighting his govt's achievements over the past eight years, the CM said that 8.5 lakh jobs were provided, including the recent police recruitment of 60,200 persons.
He hit out against previous govts, accusing them of nurturing one mafia per district, whereas his govt was promoting the 'One District, One Product' scheme and implementing welfare initiatives such as housing for the poor, free ration, grants for weddings, and health services.
During the day, the CM also inspected archaeological artefacts unearthed in Sambhal and planted saplings to promote environmental awareness. He also launched the 'Sambhal Samvad' app and distributed cheques, house keys, and certificates to beneficiaries of various govt schemes.
Mentioning the upcoming Independence Day celebrations, the CM asked people to respond to PM Narendra Modi's call and hoist the national flag.
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