Shillong, August 4: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team arrived at the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to conduct a scientific survey of the site. The survey commenced at 7 am under tight security and will continue until 12 noon. It will resume from 3 to 5 pm later in the day.
As per India Today, the Allahabad High Court’s recent decision allowed the ASI to conduct the survey, aiming to ascertain whether the 17th-century mosque was built over a pre-existing Hindu temple structure. Present at the premises were only the individuals appointed by the district administration during the survey.
However, the members of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee chose to boycott the survey. On the other hand, representatives from the Hindu side, such as Sohanlal Arya, have claimed that previous surveys revealed artifacts like sculptures of Shiva, Parvati, a statue of Varaha (boar avatar of Vishnu), bells, tridents, and other pieces of evidence suggesting the site’s temple origins.
The Allahabad High Court upheld the Varanasi district court’s order, deeming the survey “necessary in the interest of justice” and beneficial to both sides. The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee had previously approached the Supreme Court against the district court order.
The verdict was welcomed by BJP leaders who expressed hope that the truth about the site’s history will be unveiled. BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur stated that truth may take time, but it eventually comes out, and the verdict gives hope to Indians.