The Gyanvapi Masjid Committee on Friday said the ASI survey of the mosque, which lawyers on the Hindu side claim was built on the remains of a pre-existing temple, is just a report and not a judgment.

The Anjuman Intejamia Masajid Committee said they are studying the ASI survey report after which they will comment.

Mohammad Yasin, secretary of the committee that manages the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, said, “This is just a report, not a ‘faisla’ (verdict). There are many types of reports. This is not the last word on the issue.”

He said that he will present his views when the Supreme Court hears the case related to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. The Act states that no place in Ayodhya, except the Ram temple, can be ascribed “religious character”. Changed from what existed on 15 August 1947.

Reacting to the latest development, BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday said Muslims should hand over the Gyanvapi Masjid site to Hindus, and added that no statement should be made that could disrupt communal harmony.

Lawyers for Hindu petitioners in the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi case on Thursday claimed that a scientific survey report by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) shows that the mosque was built on the remains of a pre-existing temple.

Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing four women petitioners in the case, said the 839-page report makes it clear that the mosque, which is located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple, was built on the remains of a grand Hindu temple after it was demolished. Was. 17th century during the reign of Aurangzeb.

He further claimed that the survey report contained sufficient evidence of the existence of the temple at the site where the mosque now stands.

Advocate Madan Mohan Yadav, representing Rakhi Singh, one of the Hindu petitioners, said that during the survey, evidence was found at 32 places which suggested that there was a temple there.

Jain claimed that during the survey, debris of idols of Hindu deities were found in two basements.

Parts of the pre-existing temple, including pillars, were used in the construction of the Gyanvapi Mosque, he said.

He claimed that the order and date for demolishing the temple were inscribed on the stone in Persian language. A stone has also been found on which “Mahamukti” is written. Jain further claimed that the western wall at the rear of the mosque is the wall of a pre-existing temple.

A “ghanta” (a large-sized bell) and a “swastika” symbol are inscribed on the wall, he said, adding that the basement ceiling is placed on pillars of temples in the Nagara style, the report said.

Jain claimed, “This evidence shows that when Aurangzeb demolished the Adivishvara temple in the 17th century, a grand temple already existed there.”

He said they would appeal to the court for survey of Wudhu Khana, where ablution is done before prayers. He said that on the basis of the report, he will present his side by presenting evidence before the court during the next hearing on February 6.

The ASI report said, “Based on scientific studies and observations – the central chamber and main entrance of the pre-existing structure, the pillars and pillars of the pre-existing structure in the existing structure, the western chamber and the western wall, Re-use, inscriptions on the existing structure, Arabic and Persian inscriptions on loose stone, sculptural remains in the basements, etc. – it can be said that before the construction of the existing structure, a large Hindu temple existed.

The report states that the remains of a bird figure carved on the door appear to be that of a cock, and also states that the western wall of the existing structure is a remnant of a pre-existing Hindu temple.

This wall, made of stone and equipped with horizontal moldings, consists of the remaining parts of the western chamber, the western projection of the central chamber and the western walls of the two chambers to its north and south. The central chamber attached to the wall is still unchanged while the two side chambers have undergone modifications.

According to the report, the pillars and pilasters used in the existing structure were studied systematically and scientifically.

For the expansion of the mosque and construction of the Sahan, parts of the pre-existing temple, including pillars and pillars, were reused with slight modifications.

It said that microscopic study of the pillars and pillars in the corridor showed that they were originally part of a pre-existing Hindu temple.

For their re-use in the existing structure, the Vyala figures carved on either side of the lotus medallion were defaced and replaced with floral designs after removing the stone mass from the corners.

The ASI report said this observation is supported by two similar frescoes still present in their original positions on the northern and southern walls of the western chamber.

The report said that during the survey several inscriptions were observed on existing and pre-existing structures.

These are, in fact, stone inscriptions from pre-existing Hindu temples, reused during the construction/repair of the existing structure.

It contains inscriptions in Devanagari, Grantha, Telugu and Kannada scripts.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)