Claim

Akhilesh Yadav had said that the shivling found in the Gyanvapi mosque complex (wazukhana) 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।”

Rationale

In May 2022, after the claimed shivling discovery in the Gyanvapi mosque wazukhana during the court-ordered survey, Akhilesh Yadav did publicly allege a BJP conspiracy. Contemporary reporting (Prabhat Khabar, India TV, ThePrint) records him saying such controversies are deliberately stirred up by the BJP or its 'invisible allies', that 'idols used to be placed in the darkness of night', and that 'BJP can do anything and get anything done' — remarks widely reported as him calling the shivling find a BJP conspiracy. The anchor's characterization matches the documented record, so the claim is substantially accurate.

Evidence

• https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/top-stories/akhilesh-yadav-big-statement-on-found-shivling-in-varanasi-gyanvapi-masjid-bjp-rkt Prabhat Khabar (May 2022) reports Akhilesh Yadav, reacting to the shivling claim in the Gyanvapi mosque survey, alleging a BJP conspiracy ('साजिश'), saying 'एक समय ऐसा था कि रात के अंधेरे में मूर्तियां रख दी गई थीं' and 'बीजेपी कुछ भी कर सकती है और कुछ भी करा सकती है' ✓ reachable · archived
• 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 (18 May 2022) reports Akhilesh Yadav saying Gyanvapi-like incidents are part of BJP's 'hate calendar' and are 'deliberately stirred up by the BJP itself or by their aides behind a veil' ✓ reachable · archived
• https://www.opindia.com/2022/05/akhilesh-yadav-gyanvapi-mosque-gauri-temple-make-belief-insinuate/ Reports Akhilesh Yadav insinuating the Gyanvapi temple claim was manufactured, including his remark that placing a stone under a peepal tree with a red flag makes Hindus treat it as a temple ✓ reachable · archived