Akhilesh Yadav Alleges ‘Shivling’ Beneath CM Yogi’s Residence, Demands Excavation Amid Sambhal Controversy

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav has sparked a fresh political controversy by claiming that a ‘Shivling’ lies beneath the official residence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow. Addressing the media on Sunday, Yadav demanded that the site be excavated to uncover the alleged Shivling.

There is a Shivling under the Chief Minister’s residence in Lucknow. We know this. It should also be excavated,” Yadav asserted, taking a direct jab at the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government.

The statement comes after the continuation of excavation activities in Sambhal, where the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is examining the news of an ancient stepwell discovery. Yadav had criticized the BJP’s excavation spree, accusing the party of using the sentiments of historical and religious significance for its political motive.

“They will continue searching like this, and one day, by digging and digging, they will end up digging their government,” Akhilesh Yadav said, mocking the BJP’s initiatives.

The UP administration has recently started renovating and excavating the ancient “Mrityu Kup” (Well of Death) in Kot Purvi, located within the Sambhal Kotwali police station area. This is part of an effort to identify and restore historical wells of religious and spiritual significance.

On Saturday, officials of the Chandausi municipality announced that they would remove encroachments around an ancient stepwell discovered during the ongoing excavation. According to Krishna Kumar Sonkar, the executive officer of the Chandausi municipality, the project has now entered its eighth day.

Tensions had been running high in Sambhal since a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid in the Kot Garvi area began to turn violent on November 24, killing four people. The local administration has blamed the Member of Parliament of Sambhal for instigating the violence.

The incident has now added fuel to the political fire, with opposition leaders such as Akhilesh Yadav questioning the priorities of the government amid growing communal tensions in the region.

As the excavation goes on in Sambhal and Yadav’s allegations continue to rock the controversy, the UP political landscape remains charged by the BJP and SP. Both are trading blows as they go about debating and criticizing each other for being more religious in governance and public policies.