Gyanvapi Case: VHP Calls for Handover of 'Original' Kashi Vishwanath Site, Says Mosque Must be Moved

The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Saturday said the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, representing the Muslim side in the Gyanvapi case, must hand over the original site of the Kashi Vishwanath temple to the Hindu side. It said the ASI survey report has concluded that a large Hindu temple existed on the same spot before the mosque.

The Muslim side, however, has questioned the ASI findings, saying it is only an elaborate version of a previous survey. It has also said the remains of idols of gods and goddesses found by the ASI belong to sculptors, who worked in the mosque premises as tenants.

The Hindutva outfit said handing over the site and “respectfully” moving the Gyanvapi mosque to another “appropriate place” will be “righteous action” on part of the Muslims, and an “important step towards creating amicable relations between the two prominent communities of Bharat”.

According to VHP international working president Alok Kumar, the evidence collected by the ASI from the Gyanvapi mosque reconfirms that the structure was constructed after demolishing a temple. A part of the temple structure, particularly the western wall, is the remaining part of the Hindu temple.

Kumar said the report proves that parts of the pre-existing temple, including pillars and pilasters, were reused with modifications to extend the span of the mosque and for the construction of the ‘sahan’. He said the shivling in what was called the ‘wazukhana’ leaves no doubt that the structure does not have the character of a mosque.

The VHP leader and senior advocate also said the report had found such names, including Janardana, Rudra and Umeswara, in inscriptions found in the structure. He said these were telltale evidence of the site having a temple.

He said the evidence collected and the conclusions provided by the ASI show that the religious character of this place of worship existed on August 15, 1947, and is that of a Hindu temple. Hence, as per Section 4 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the structure should be declared a Hindu temple, he added.

Here are the suggestions made by the VHP with regard to the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri case:

1. Hindus should be permitted to offer sewa puja to the shivling found in the “so-called wazukhana area”.
2. The mosque committee should “respectfully” agree to move the Gyanvapi mosque to another appropriate place and hand over the original site of Kashi Vishwanath to the Hindu society.

Muslim side questions ASI survey

The mosque committee has said the ASI survey is nothing but an elaborate version of a short survey carried out during the time of the advocate commission. It has also raised a question mark on a part of the report about the recovery of the remains of idols of gods and goddesses from the premises of the Gyanvapi mosque. The committee said it belongs to their sculptor tenants and has nothing to do with the mosque.

The reaction came two days after the Varanasi district court on January 24 ordered that the report of the scientific survey should be made public so that all petitioners – Hindus and Muslims – can access it. District judge AK Vishvesha had given the order while hearing a bunch of petitions filed by Hindu petitioners seeking access to the report.