Claim
Akhilesh Yadav had said that the Shivling found at the Gyanvapi complex was a BJP conspiracy.
“काशी विश्वनाथ वहां जो ज्ञानवापी के नीचे जो शिवलिंग मिला था उस पर अखिलेश यादव जी ने कहा था वो बीजेपी की साजिश है।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
Contemporaneous news reports from May 2022 confirm that Akhilesh Yadav publicly characterized the Shivling reportedly found during the Gyanvapi survey as a BJP conspiracy, using the exact phrasing 'This is a BJP conspiracy' (यह बीजेपी की साजिश है) and alleging the party engineered/planted the object. The anchor's paraphrase accurately reflects Akhilesh's documented statement.
Evidence
- https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/top-stories/akhilesh-yadav-big-statement-on-found-shivling-in-varanasi-gyanvapi-masjid-bjp-rkt Prabhat Khabar (May 19, 2022) directly quotes Akhilesh Yadav on the Gyanvapi Shivling: 'यह भारतीय जनता पार्टी की साजिश है' (This is a BJP conspiracy), and reports he alleged idols were placed at night in darkness. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/zee-hindustan/national/akhilesh-yadav-controvesial-comment-shivling-hindu-temple-ayodhya-ram-mandir-gyanvapi-mosque-survey-case/1189156 Zee News reports Akhilesh's dismissive/conspiratorial framing of the Gyanvapi Shivling, comparing it to placing a stone and vermilion to make a temple, and accusing BJP of engineering the issue. ✗ unreachable · HTTP 403
- https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/gyanvapi-mosque-case-bjp-has-hate-calendar-to-bring-up-such-issues-until-elections-says-akhilesh-yadav-latest-gyanvapi-hearing-news-updates-varanasi-2022-05-18-777352 India TV reports Akhilesh saying Gyanvapi-like incidents are 'deliberately stirred up by the BJP itself or by their aides behind a veil' as part of a 'hate calendar' until elections. ✓ reachable · archived