Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Saturday said that the Anjuman Arrangements Mosque Committee, representing the Muslim side in the Gyanvapi case, should hand over the original site of Kashi Vishwanath Temple to the Hindu side. It said the ASI survey report had concluded that a large Hindu temple existed at the same location before the mosque.

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

The Hindutva organization said handing over the site and “respectfully” moving the Gyanvapi Mosque to another “appropriate place” would be a “righteous action” on the part of Muslims, and an important step towards building cordial relations between India’s two major communities. will be. ,

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

Kumar said the report proved that parts of the pre-existing temple, including pillars and pillars, were reused with modifications to extend the span of the mosque and construct the ‘sahan’. He said that the Shivalinga present in what was called ‘Vazukhana’ leaves no doubt that this structure does not have the character of a mosque.

The VHP leader and senior advocate also said that the report found names like Janardana, Rudra and Umeshvara in the inscriptions found in the structure. He said that this is clear evidence of the existence of a temple at that place.

He said that the evidence collected and the findings given by the ASI show that the religious character of this place of worship was in existence on August 15, 1947 and it is that of a Hindu temple. He said, therefore, as per Section 4 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the structure should be declared a Hindu temple.

The suggestions given by VHP regarding the Gyanvapi-Shringaar Gauri issue are as follows:

1. Hindus should be allowed to perform seva puja at the Shivalinga found in the “so-called Vazukhana area”.
2. The mosque committee should “respectfully” agree to move the Gyanvapi Mosque to some other suitable place and hand over the original site of Kashi Vishwanath to the Hindu society.

Muslim side raised questions on ASI survey

The Masjid Committee has said that the ASI survey is nothing but an expanded version of a brief survey conducted at the time of the Advocates Commission. It has also raised question marks on a part of the report regarding the recovery of remains of idols of deities from the premises of Gyanvapi Mosque. The committee said it belonged to their sculptor tenants and had nothing to do with the mosque.

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