The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has made a formal demand for the relocation of the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, following the recent Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report confirming the presence of a Hindu temple at the Gyanvapi site. The move signifies a significant shift in the organization’s stance on the possession of the Gyanvapi campus.
VHP President Alok Kumar, in a statement issued on Saturday, urged the Intezamia Committee to agree to the respectful shifting of the Gyanvapi Mosque to a more suitable location. The VHP proposes that the original site of Kashi Vishvanatha be handed over to the Hindu community for worship. This demand comes as a departure from the VHP’s previous approach of not aggressively pursuing ownership of the Gyanvapi campus.
Kumar invoked the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act (1991) to support the VHP’s claim. He argued that ASI’s confirmation of the temple’s existence justifies the demand to allow the Hindu community to perform ‘Sewa Puja’ to the Shivlinga discovered in the area known as the wazukhana. According to Kumar, the presence of inscriptions bearing names such as Janardana, Rudra, and Umeswara further supports the assertion that the structure is a temple and not a mosque.
The Places of Worship Act (1991) was enacted to prohibit the conversion of any place of worship and to preserve the religious character of such places as it existed on August 15, 1947. Kumar contends that, based on ASI’s findings, the Gyanvapi structure should be officially declared a Hindu temple in accordance with Section 4 of the Act.
Kumar emphasized that the evidence collected and the conclusions drawn by ASI confirm that the religious character of the site, both on August 15, 1947, and at present, is that of a Hindu temple. He believes that taking this step aligns with the spirit of the Places of Worship Act and can contribute to fostering amicable relations between the Hindu and Muslim communities.
According to Kumar, the ASI report establishes that the mosque was constructed after the demolition of a magnificent temple. Parts of the pre-existing temple, including pillars and plasters, were repurposed in the construction of the mosque. The western wall, in particular, is identified as the remaining part of the Hindu temple, reinforcing the VHP’s argument.
The ASI report, submitted to a Varanasi court last month in a sealed cover, concluded that a Hindu temple existed at the site before the construction of the present structure. Copies of the report were distributed to Hindu and Muslim litigants by the court last Thursday. The ASI was tasked by the Varanasi district court in July 2023 to conduct a scientific survey to determine if the mosque was built over the pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple. The unfolding controversy raises questions about the delicate balance between history, religion, and legal provisions aimed at preserving the sanctity of places of worship in India.