Yogi Adityanath vows to restore 68 shrines, 19 sacred wells allegedly destroyed by invaders in Sambhal

The religious heritage of Sambhal, which was allegedly destroyed by invaders, can be restored and preserved as has been done in Ayodhya and Kashi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday (August 7, 2025), terming the city in northwestern U.P. as a symbol of the Hindu faith.

Alleging that the city has suffered historical injustices, he targeted previous regimes, warning that those who sin against Sambhal will face severe punishment for their actions. 

“The town once boasted 68 pilgrimage sites, 19 sacred wells, and traditional 24- and 84-kos parikrama routes, all desecrated and destroyed by invaders. These holy sites were taken over, and a deliberate attempt was made to erase the truth, it was a malicious conspiracy,” Mr. Adityanath said, addressing a public gathering after inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for 222 development projects worth ₹659 crore in the Sambhal district. 

Revival like Kashi, Ayodhya

The U.P. CM vowed to restore all 68 shrines and 19 sacred wells in Sambhal. “True development is in preserving legacy while shaping the golden dreams of today and tomorrow. Sambhal is a historic city, it is a sacred land of both Hari (Vishnu) and Har (Shiva), and foretold in scriptures like the Shrimad Bhagavat, Skanda, and Vishnu Puranas as the birthplace of Lord Kalki in Kaliyug,” Mr. Adityanath said.

Drawing a parallel with the revival of Ayodhya and Kashi, the U.P. CM said Sambhal could also be revived in a similar way. “If they can be restored, why not Sambhal? We will rejuvenate Lord Kalki’s shrine and Harihar Dham,” he said.

Attacks Congress, SP

Hitting out at the previous Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) governments, the CM asked people to never forget their crimes in Sambhal. “Congress orchestrated mass killings here, and SP 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,” alleged the U.P. CM. “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,” he added.

Mr. Adityanath claimed that 8.5 lakh jobs have been provided over the past eight years of the BJP regime in the State, including the recent police recruitment of 60,200 youth. “The SP governments nurtured one mafia per district, whereas our regime fully focused on promoting the ‘One District, One Product’ scheme, for the overall growth and development of the State bringing rapid progress and industrialisation,” he said.