Varanasi court permits Hindus to offer prayers at 'Vyas ka Tekhana' of Gyanvapi Mosque
Varanasi court on 31st January permits Hindus to offer prayers in the Southern Cellar of Gyanvapi Mosque. Hindus are now allowed to offer prayers at 'Vyas ka Tekhana' which is a sealed area inside the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi.
Till 1993, priest Somnath Vyas used to perform prayers until the cellar was barricaded by the authorities. Shailendra Kumar Pathak Vyas, maternal grandson of Somnath Vyas had filed a petition against the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee that manages and controls the mosque.
History behind the Gyanvapi mosque conflict
The mosque has four cellars in its basement. The basement of Vyas Ji Ka Tekhana is located at the southern end of the Gyanvapi complex. Madan Mohan Yadav had earlier said that authorities had barricaded and locked the basement known as 'Vyas Ji Ka Tekhana' in 1993. In July 2023 the Varanasi district court had ordered an archaeological survey of the Gyanvapi mosque in response to a petition by a group of Hindu litigants seeking the right to hold prayers inside the mosque compound. The Allahabad High Court in May asked for a scientific survey to be conducted of an oval-shaped object that was found inside the Gyanvapi Mosque. The oval-shaped object was found in May 2022 during another survey of the mosque premises ordered by a civil court in Varanasi. The Hindu litigants claimed that the oval-shaped object was actually a shivling. The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee claimed the object was a defunct fountainhead in the ablution tank.
Madan Mohan Yadav, advocate from the Hindu side said that district administration will make arrangements for the Pooja including the removal of barricades in the next seven days and Kadhu Vishwanath Trust will facilitate it.
Archaeological Survey of India report
Archaeological Survey of India presents a report that reveals the existence of a Hindu temple at the Gyanvapi Mosque. Western Wall of the existing structures is remaining part of a pre-existing Hindu temple. Pillars and plasters suggest they were originally part of a pre-existing Hindu temple. Based on art and architecture, this pre-existing structure can be identified as a Hindu temple. During the survey, a number of inscriptions were noticed in the existing and pre-existing structures. A total of 34 inscriptions were recorded during the present survey and 32 estampages were taken. Structure appears to have been destroyed in the 17th century during the reign of Aurangzeb and part of it was modified and reused in the existing structure.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who also represents the Hindu side, said that Hindus used to offer prayers inside the mosque till 1993, but in November 1993, the state government barricaded the cellar. He further added, "There was no written order to stop the prayers. Today, there is also no written order from any government to show how the prayers were stopped. We will soon complete the legal case. And win it." Union Minister Giriraj Singh said," Muslims should hand over the temple."
AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi's statement on the Archaeological Survey of India report
The All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen Chief Asaduddin Owaisi calls the Archaeological Survey of India report on the Gyanvapi Mosque as a mockery of scientific study and he further added that the report does not hold any academic scrutiny.