'Aurangzeb Wasn't Cruel, Didn't Demolish Vishwanath Temple, No Shiva Linga Found In Gyanvapi Mosque': Masjid Committee In Varanasi Court

"Neither Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was cruel, nor did he demolish any Lord Adi Vishweshwar Temple in Varanasi," submitted Gyanvapi Mosque Committee before the Varanasi Court on May 22 by filing an application opposing Hindu Worshippers' Plea filed last week seeking ASI Survey of Mosque premises.

In its objection to the ASI Survey of the premises, the Masjid Committee (Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee) has denied the averment made in the Hindu Worshippers plea that old Lord Adi Vishweshwar Temple temple was attacked and destroyed by a Muslim invader and Raja Tondal Mal restored the temple at the same place in 1580 AD.

There was no concept of two Kashi Vishwanath temples (old and new) in Varanasi, the application adds.

Further, the Masjid committee has also objected to the Hindu worshippers' plea calling Muslim rulers as invaders. It adds that the said averment was made with the aim of creating hatred among Hindu Muslims.

"The structure or building which is present on the spot, Masjid Alamgiri / Gyanvapi Masjid, has been there for thousands of years, it was a mosque yesterday and is still a mosque, and the Muslims of Varanasi and neighbouring districts, as a matter of right, without any restrictions, have been offering Namaz Panjgana and Namaz Zuma and Namaz Idaan," the application states.

Significantly, the Masjid Committee has also stated in its application that contrary to the claims of the Hindu Worshippers, no Shiva Linga was found last year inside the Gyanvapi Mosque premises and the object that is being claimed to be a Shiva Linga, is actually a Fauvara (Fountain).

Against this backdrop, the application prays for the rejection of the Hindu Worshipers' plea seeking an ASI survey of the Mosque premises. It states that the ASI can't be ordered to survey the premises as looking at the photographs, it can be ascertained that the disputed site is a Mosque.

The applicant adds that it is not permissible under the Law that evidence is made to be collected by a commission or by way of a scientific probe. 

Importantly, the application states that in relation to the disputed property, a suit is pending in the court of Civil Judge (C.D.) FT C, Varanasi, in which in April 2021 AD Order was passed to the ASI to conduct a survey, against which, a writ plea was moved before the Allahabad HC, which is under consideration and on which both the above writs have been reserved for orders after the completion of arguments by the parties and hence, the application prays that in such a situation, the question of getting the survey done by the ASI on the same points again in respect of the same property does not arise.

In related news, a Varanasi Court today allowed an application moved before it seeking to consolidate eight Gyanvapi-related suits pending before various courts. Now, all these matters will be heard together by the district judge's court.