New Delhi: In a veiled barb at Raj Thackeray who has taken an aggressive stand against loudspeakers on mosques, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday termed the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief a "new Hindu Owaisi" and his party a "new Hindutva MIM".Alleging the Bharatiya Janata Party's hand behind the demands for removing loudspeakers from mosques and reciting Hanuman Chalisa, Raut claimed that intelligence inputs suggest that a conspiracy is on to create communal tension in Maharashtra and recommend President's rule dismissing the MVA government.In an ultimatum to the state government, Raj Thackeray recently said that loudspeakers on mosques should be removed by May 3 or else 'Hanuman Chalisa' will be played in a higher volume outside mosques.Raising the pitch for Hindutva, Shiv Sena has organised the recitation of 'Hanuman Chalisa' in Dadar in Mumbai this evening on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, while the MNS chief is scheduled to perform a 'maha aarti' in Pune later in the day."The demand for removing loudspeakers on mosques and the reciting Hanuman Chalisa are parts of an effort to create a communal hatred to topple the MVA government by BJP in collaboration with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena," Raut alleged.He alleged that BJP is "frustrated" as its efforts to win over MLAs from MVA parties -- the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party, and the Congress -- have failed while the people have rejected the bid to create a communal discord."This is the reason the BJP is getting this work done by a 'nav-Hindutva AIMIM' and 'nav-Hindu Owaisi'. They have plans to distribute loudspeakers and recite Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques. They have given a contract for this work. They will recite Hanuman Chalisa in front of mosques, then the real Owaisi (AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi) will come into the picture and everything will culminate into riots," he said."Later, they will send a report to the Centre through Raj Bhavan and try to impose President's rule in Maharashtra. We have intelligence and vigilance inputs of such plan and the Home Ministry is looking into it," Raut claimed.Raut also announced Shiv Sena leader and minister Aaditya Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya, tentatively in the first or second week of May."Nashik Shiv Sena will organise this programme. The programme will be regarding the concept of 'Ram Rajya' by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray,” he said.The Sena chief spokesperson also said the Sena won the byelection to the Vile Parle constituency in Mumbai in 1987 on the Hindutva slogan given by Sena supremo Bal Thackeray."Some people are trying to make a corrupt copy of the Shiv Sena supremo. But it is useless. Whom do they teach Hindutva? Those who have taken Hindutva on rent should not teach us Hindutva. Those who boast of reciting the Hanuman Chalisa cannot say even the first two stanzas of it by heart. They cannot even recite the national anthem and Vande Mataram,” Raut said without taking names.He said Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti have been celebrated for years peacefully."But this year, there were riots in ten states on Ram Navami (on April 10). Creating riots in poll-bound states and winning them this way is the strategy of BJP now,” Raut alleged.Alleging a "pattern" of triggering communal riots and winning elections, the Sena MP said this will break the country into pieces.Referring to the FIR registered in Mumbai against BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and his son in the alleged misappropriation of funds collected to save decommissioned aircraft carrier 'INS Vikrant', Raut alleged that some courts are becoming "relief courts".“In 2022, it came to light that the money collected to save INS Vikrant did not reach where it was supposed to reach. Even the sessions court agreed to the fact that misappropriation of funds had taken place. Whether it was Rs 58 crore or Rs 158 crore, the investigation will reveal. However, the high court gave relief to Kirit Somaiya. The court is a 'relief court' for some people. The HC observed as wrong that the money was collected in 2013 and the case was registered only in 2022," Raut claimed.The Bombay high court on Wednesday granted interim protection from arrest to Kirit Somaiya in the INS Vikrant funds case.Raut also alleged a scam by "Yuva Pratishthan, an NGO of Kirit Somaiya and his wife, by submitting fake bills in the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation.The Sena MP claimed that an attempt was made to change the history of India since 2014- when the BJP came to power."It's an attempt to destroy all the good things which had been done in the last 60 years. The rulers of the country are working with a mindset that the history of the nation started only in 2014," he said and referred to the inauguration of the Pradhan Mantri Museum in New Delhi by PM Narendra Modi and the Congress's opposition to it.—PTI

: In a veiled barb at Raj Thackeray who has taken an aggressive stand against loudspeakers on mosques, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday termed the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief a "new Hindu Owaisi" and his party a "new Hindutva MIM".

Rise Of New 'Hindu Owaisi': Raut's Veiled Swipe At Raj Thackeray

New Delhi: There is no evidence for the theory that a bid to plant saffron flags at a mosque led to violence in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri but was “a minor argument which later took the shape of massive violence”, Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said on Monday.“The people who are saying that someone attempted to plant a flag there… it is not true,” he said at a press briefing on the Jahangirpuri communal violence.He said it is too soon to tell what the reason for provocation was . “This is part of the investigation. I can’t tell you anything because the investigation is yet to be completed,” he said. Asked again about planting the saffron flag, Asthana said: “It is not right. There was no such thing.” However, Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind’s Delhi state General Secretary Abdul Raziq, who visited the site of the violence along with a delegation on Sunday, told IANS that when the third procession was passing near the mosque, some miscreants tried to enter and place a ‘saffron flag’ at the gate of the mosque.Asthana also said that at the time of violence the police were present in adequate numbers and initially even managed to separate both the groups.“Nine people, including 8 cops, were injured in the clashes. This shows that the police efficiently did their job which prevented any injury to the public,” he added.—IANS

There is no evidence for the theory that a bid to plant saffron flags at a mosque led to violence in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri but was “a minor argument which later took the shape of massive violence”, Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said on Monday.

Jahangirpuri Violence: Delhi Police Chief Says No Bid To Plant Saffron Flag On Mosque

New Delhi: Seven people were arrested after they allegedly threw pieces of pork, letters abusing Muslims and torn pages of an Islamic text at some mosques in Ayodhya in an attempt to instigate communal violence, police said on Thursday.The arrested belong to an outfit called the 'Hindu Yodha Sangathan', and the leader of the group is a history-sheeter with four criminal cases registered against him, they said.The police said they have registered four FIRs in connection with the incidents that took place at the Taatshah Jama Masjid, Ghosiyana mosque, a mosque at the Kashmiri Mohalla and a mazar known as Gulab Shah Baba.'It was an attempt to create communal violence and incite riots in Ayodhya,' they said in a statement.On Tuesday midnight, the accused threw pieces of pork, letters threatening a particular community and torn pages of a sacred text at the mosques and a mazar, it said. Eleven people were involved in the conspiracy and four of them are on the run, the police said, adding that they found the accused had purchased skull caps, two copies of the Quran, pork and writing materials.During the investigation, it was found that the accused were annoyed over the Jahangirpuri incident in Delhi and wanted to take revenge, the statement said.Those arrested were identified by the police as the outfit's leader Mahesh Mishra, and Pratyush Kumar, Nitin Kumar, Deepak Gaud, Brajesh Pandey, Shatrughan and Vimal Pandey, all residents of the Kotwali City police station area.The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), the police said. They first attempted to plant the objectionable items at a mosque in Beniganj, but due to police presence in the area, they moved to the three mosques and the mazar, the police said.—PTI

Seven people were arrested after they allegedly threw pieces of pork, letters abusing Muslims and torn pages of an Islamic text at some mosques in Ayodhya in an attempt to instigate communal violence, police said on Thursday. The arrested belong to an outfit called the 'Hindu Yodha Sangathan', and the leader of the group is a history-sheeter with four criminal cases registered against him, they said.

Sacrilege At Ayodhya Mosques To Incite Riots: 7 Held

Seven people were arrested after they allegedly threw pieces of pork, letters abusing Muslims and torn pages of an Islamic text at some mosques in Ayodhya in an attempt to instigate communal violence, police said on Thursday.
The arrested belong to an outfit called the 'Hindu Yodha Sangathan', and the leader of the group is a history-sheeter with four criminal cases registered against him, they said.





Varanasi: A district court in&nbsp;Varanasi on Thursday rejected the plea to change the court-appointed advocate commissioner for conducting a video survey of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex and appointed two additional advocate commissioners to assist him.The court also directed for completion of the survey by May 17 and submission of its report, Abhay Nath Yadav, who is representing the Gyanvapi mosque management committee, said.The court of Civil Judge (Senior Division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar, which had also heard the matter relating to the opening of the two basements located inside the mosque complex for videography, delivered the verdict after hearing the arguments of both the sides.The Gyanvapi mosque management committee had filed an application seeking a replacement of court official Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was assigned to do the survey, claiming he was not impartial.—PTI

A district court in Varanasi on Thursday rejected the plea to change the court-appointed advocate commissioner for conducting a video survey of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex and appointed two additional advocate commissioners to assist him.

Complete Gyanvapi mosque survey by May 17, orders court

Varanasi: The Uttar Pradesh Police have made security arrangements for 'darshan' of deity by devotees during the ongoing Gyanvapi Mosque survey in Varanasi on Saturday."There is a robust arrangement to ensure that the people don't face any inconvenience, the darshan takes place well and everything goes on well," said RS Gautam, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kashi Zone.The survey began at 8 AM after the officials entered the underground cell and started videography.This survey is being conducted in accordance with the Varanasi Civil Court's order to continue the survey despite objections from the mosque authorities.Ahead of the survey, all the shops within the 500-meter radius of the area have been shut.The civil court had appointed a court commissioner to conduct the survey and videography of the site and the same was challenged before Allahabad High Court, which dismissed the appeal on April 21. The April 21 order of the High Court was challenged in the apex court.Five women had filed a petition in the court seeking permission for daily worship at the Shringar Gauri temple, which is allegedly situated inside the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Mosque premises.The order of the civil court for undertaking survey and videography at the premises came on the petition of the aforesaid.Another petition, which was filed by one Vijay Shankar Rastogi, had contended that the entire premises belonged to the Kashi Vishwanath and that the Gyanvapi Mosque is only a part of the Temple, is also pending in the court since 1991. Rastogi had also claimed that the Kashi Vishwanath Temple had been built over two thousand years ago and the temple was demolished by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.&nbsp;—ANI

The Uttar Pradesh Police have made security arrangements for 'darshan' of deity by devotees during the ongoing Gyanvapi Mosque survey in Varanasi on Saturday.

UP Police Make Elaborate Security Arrangements Near Gyanvapi Mosque In Varanasi

Varanasi: The second day of the court-ordered videography survey of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi began on Sunday morning amid tight security.The court-appointed committee will conduct the survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque today. The survey will be conducted between 8 am-12 noon," said Advocate Vishal Singh, the court-appointed special assistant commissioner. The police cordoned off the road near the complex. All the shops within the 500-meter radius of the complex were shut on the first day. People will be not allowed in the complex area. "Darshan has been arranged for all. All the routes have been opened so that the visitors do not face any problems and police personnel have been accordingly deployed. Right now entry is being given to a member of the commission from one gate and devotees are having darshan from the rest," said Varanasi DCP RS Gautam on Gyanvapi Masjid.As far as the survey is concerned, the lawyers of both sides, police officers, the District Magistrate and all the government officials related to the survey have reached the spot. This survey is being conducted in accordance with the Varanasi Civil Court's order to continue the survey despite objections from the mosque authorities. The civil court had appointed a court commissioner to conduct the survey and videography of the site and the same was challenged before Allahabad High Court, which dismissed the appeal on April 21.The April 21 order of the High Court was challenged in the apex court. Five women had filed a petition in the court seeking permission for daily worship at the Shringar Gauri temple, which is claimed to be situated inside the Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi Mosque premises. The order of the civil court for undertaking survey and videography at the premises came on the petition of the aforesaid. Another petition, which was filed by one Vijay Shankar Rastogi, had contended that the entire premises belonged to the Kashi Vishwanath and that the Gyanvapi Mosque is only a part of the Temple, is also pending in the court since 1991. Rastogi had also claimed that the Kashi Vishwanath Temple had been built over two thousand years ago and the temple was demolished by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.—ANI

The second day of the court-ordered videography survey of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi began on Sunday morning amid tight security.

2nd day Survey of Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque commences

Varansi: As the videography survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex was completed on Monday, the Hindu side advocates claimed that a 'shivling' had been found inside the well.Lawyer Vishnu Jain said he would go to the civil court to seek its protection. An advocate from the Hindu side, Madan Mohan Yadav, claimed that the shivling is Nandi faced. "The shivling is 12 feet by 8 inches in diameter," he added. Heavy security was deployed as the court-appointed committee reached the spot to conduct the survey on Monday. Nearly 65 per cent of the exercise was completed on Sunday. The advocate commissioners will submit their report to the court on Tuesday.On Sunday, the survey of the areas of the mosque which, according to lawyers Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Jain, used to be a part of the temple was done.On the western wall of the Gyanvapi complex, the remains of Hindu temple demolition are visible and the pictures which are the biggest proof, will be surveyed. For this, the fourth lock was opened on Monday, while the first three rooms were opened during the survey on Saturday.Gyanvapi Mosque, adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, is currently facing a legal battle. A court in Varanasi has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to probe the structure of the Gyanvapi Masjid. The survey is to find out the truth behind the claims of the presence of Hindu symbols of worship in the mosque complex. Five Delhi-based women -- Rakhi Singh, Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu and others moved the court with their plea on April 18, 2021, seeking permission for daily prayers before the idols of Hindu deities on its outer walls. They also sought to stop the opponents from causing any damage to the idols.—IANS

As the videography survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex was completed on Monday, the Hindu side advocates claimed that a 'shivling' had been found inside the well.

'Shivling' found in Gyanvapi well, claim Hindu lawyers

Delhi: The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board has termed as "unfair" and an "attempt to create communal disharmony" the sealing of a pond in the Gyanvapi Masjid complex after it was claimed that a Shivling was found there during a survey. During a court-mandated videography survey, the counsel representing the Hindu side claimed that the Shivling was found close to the&nbsp;wazookhana-- a small reservoir used by Muslim devotees to perform ritual ablutions before offering the namaz.A mosque management committee spokesperson disputed the claim, telling a television channel that the object was part of a "fountain". He said lawyers representing the mosque committee were not fully heard before the sealing order was pronounced.In a statement issued late Monday night, AIMPLB general secretary Khalid Saifullah Rahmani said, "The Gyanvapi mosque is a mosque and will remain a mosque. The attempt to term it a temple is nothing more than a conspiracy to create communal disharmony. It is a matter of constitutional rights and is against the law." "In 1937, in the case of Deen Mohammad Vs State Secretary, the court had decided on the basis of oral testimony and documents that this entire compound (Gyanvapi mosque complex) belongs to the Muslim Waqf and Muslims have the right to offer namaz in it," he said. The court had also decided that how much area is of the mosque and how much is of the temple. At the same time, the&nbsp;wazookhana&nbsp;was accepted as the property of the mosque, Rahmani added."Then in 1991, the Places of Worship Act was passed by Parliament, which states that the places of worship as they were in 1947 will be maintained in the same condition. Even in the Babri Masjid judgment, it was said that now all places of worship places will be under this law," he said. The AIMPLB general secretary also said the claim of the mosque being a temple should have been immediately rejected by the court but the civil court of Varanasi ordered the survey and videography.The Waqf Board has approached the high court in this matter and the case is pending there. The Gyanvapi mosque management committee has also approached the Supreme Court against the civil court's decision. "The issue is being heard. But by ignoring all these things, the civil court first issued the order of the survey and then, accepting its report, issued an order to seal the portion of&nbsp;wazookhana," Rahmani said. "This order is an excess and also a violation of law which cannot be expected from a court. The government should stop the implementation of the order and wait for the Allahabad High Court's decision. The government should protect all religious places as per the 1991 Act," he said. Referring to the claims of a temple inside the mosque, Rahmani said, "If the status of the places of worship is changed on the basis of such arguments, then the whole country will be pushed into turmoil, because many big temples are made by converting Buddhist and Jain shrines and their traces are also visible there." "Muslims cannot tolerate this atrocity. The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board will fight this injustice at every level," he said.—PTI

The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board has termed as "unfair" and an "attempt to create communal disharmony" the sealing of a pond in the Gyanvapi Masjid complex after it was claimed that a Shivling was found there during a survey.

Gyanvapi is a mosque, will remain a mosque: AIMPLB on Shivling claim

Mathura: A Mathura court on Thursday allowed a petition seeking to remove the Shahi Idgah mosque that it claims is built on the land belonging to the Keshav Dev temple, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, a lawyer for the Hindu side said. Hari Shankar Jain said the court has accepted one of the multiple pleas on the matter. The Krishna Janmabhoomi complex spans 13.37 acres. According to the petition, the mosque is built on the land that belongs to the temple.—PTI

A Mathura court on Thursday allowed a petition seeking to remove the Shahi Idgah mosque that it claims is built on the land belonging to the Keshav Dev temple, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, a lawyer for the Hindu side said.

Krishna Janmabhoomi: UP court allows lawsuit demanding mosque removal

Varanasi: Several sculptures of gods and goddesses along with other structures related to Hindu motifs were seen in the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, said advocate Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was appointed commissioner by a Varanasi court to survey the Gyanvapi-Gauri Shringar complex but was later removed for leaking the information. The report was submitted to court by Mishra on Wednesday. The report submitted by Mishra stated, "Outside the barricading of the disputed area, the ruins of the old temple were found in which sculptures of gods and goddesses and patterns of lotus were seen. In the middle, stone sculptures of Sheshnag and ‘Nag phan’ like patterns were seen. All the slabs seemed to be part of a big edifice." A local court had removed Mishra on Tuesday, stating that he had been "highly irresponsible" in executing the work."Further four idol like structures with "Sinduri" mark were observed. It seemed that arrangements for lighting diyas were there. The stone slabs with artistic patterns were kept in the west wall behind the mosque appeared to be in continuity with the big structure," the report said.The report by Mishra also mentioned that the three-four sculptures with Sindoor marks and 'Choukhat' like stone slab are believed to be 'Sringar Gouri'.The Varanasi court-appointed commission, which conducted the survey of the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex, submitted its report on Thursday after a two-day extension.The three-day-long court-monitored videography survey of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi concluded on Monday.The Hindu petitioner in the case, Sohan Lal Arya, on Monday claimed that the committee found a Shivling at the complex. Arya, who accompanied the commission for the mosque survey, said they have found "conclusive evidence". After the conclusion of the survey, the Varanasi court ordered the district magistrate of Varanasi, Kaushal Raj Sharma, "to seal the area where the Shivling was found and to bar people from going to the place."Hearing the Gyanvapi mosque case on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered the Varanasi district magistrate to ensure the area where a Shivling was purportedly found is protected without obstructing the Muslim community's right to worship.—ANI

Several sculptures of gods and goddesses along with other structures related to Hindu motifs were seen in the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, said advocate Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was appointed commissioner by a Varanasi court to survey the Gyanvapi-Gauri Shringar complex but was later removed for leaking the information.

Official sacked by court says Sheshnag idol found inside Gyanvapi complex

Sambhal:&nbsp;Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq on Thursday said the claimed discovery of a Shivling in Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque complex was false propaganda and urged opposition parties to counter it. The local MP said Hindus and Muslims should ensure that such propaganda is stopped as every mosque is now being seen with suspicion. He asked why Muslims would keep a Shivling at their place of worship as this would be idol worship, which is against the Shariat. Earlier this week, Hindu lawyers had claimed that a structure found in the `wazookhana' reservoir at the mosque during a court-ordered survey was a Shivling. The mosque committee members disputed the claim, saying the structure was part of the fountain mechanism at the wazookhana, where people perform ritual ablutions before offering namaz. The MP termed the BJP an RSS organisation and accused both bodies of trying to spoil the atmosphere in the country. He said the Waqf board and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and other responsible people should work together to save the country and the Muslim community. Barq also questioned the Uttar Pradesh government's recent decision not to provide grants to new madrassas. "This is the result of a conspiracy to hurt Muslims. This is propaganda so that Muslims can't get education," he claimed.—PTI

Samajwadi Party MP Shafiqur Rehman Barq on Thursday said the claimed discovery of a Shivling in Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque complex was false propaganda and urged opposition parties to counter it.

SP MP asks Oppn to counter Shivling 'propaganda'

New Delhi: Associate professor of Delhi University's Hindu College Ratan Lal was arrested on Friday night for his objectionable social media post referring to claims about a 'Shivling' found inside Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque complex, police said. Police said Mr Lal was arrested under Indian Penal Code sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295A (deliberate act to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion) by the Cyber Police Station, North.An FIR was lodged against Mr Lal on Tuesday night based on a complaint filed by a Delhi-based lawyer. In his complaint, advocate Vineet Jindal said Mr Lal had recently shared a "derogatory, inciting and provocative tweet on the Shivling".The statement made by Mr Lal on his Twitter account is "instigating and provoking", he said in the complaint. The statement was posted on the issue of a 'Shivling' found in the Gyanvapi mosque complex which is very sensitive in nature and the matter is pending before the court, the lawyer said in his complaint. Defending his post earlier, Mr Lal had said, "In India, if you speak about anything, someone or the other's sentiment will be hurt. So this is nothing new. I am a historian and have made several observations. As I wrote them down, I have used very guarded language in my post and still this. I will defend myself."—PTI

Associate professor of Delhi University's Hindu College Ratan Lal was arrested on Friday night for his objectionable social media post referring to claims about a 'Shivling' found inside Varanasi's Gyanvapi mosque complex, police said.

Delhi professor arrested over Facebook post on Varanasi's Gyanvapi

New Delhi: Amid the row over discovery of a "Shivling" inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, a district court in Mathura, earlier this week, allowed a plea by the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust and other private parties, seeking ownership of the land on which the Shahi Idgah mosque is built.Both the Gyanvapi mosque and the Shahi Idgah Mosque, fall under the purview of The Places of Worship Act, 1991, but now they are under litigation.The Idgah is next to the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Sthal, where Lord Krishna is believed to have been born, and the Gyanvapi mosque is adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath TempleThe Mathura dispute involves ownership of 13.37 acres of land, which the petitioners claim belongs to Lord Shri Krishna Virajman and also challenged the validity of a 1968 compromise agreement between Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan and the Trust Masjid Idgah.The petitioners claim the compromise agreement was fraudulent, where the temple authority conceded the contentious portion of land to the Idgah.The temple trust and the private parties claim since the land was under control of the trust, the temple management authority was not in a position to enter into a compromise.Counsel representing Idgah contended that the society is an agent of the trust, which appoints the head of the society, and the compromise agreement was also registered. The court has agreed to examine this compromise.Since, both - Gyanvapi and Shahi Idgah - fall under the purview of the 1991 Act, it will be interesting to see what methodology the court adopts to resolve the issue.The Places of Worship Act, 1991 terms itself "An Act to prohibit conversion of any place of worship and to provide for the maintenance of the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on the 15th day of August, 1947, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto."Section 4 of the Act says: "It is hereby declared that the religious character of a place of worship existing on the 15th day of August, 1947 shall continue to be the same as it existed on that day."Petitions have also been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the validity of the 1991 Act.BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, who has filed one of the petitions, alleged: "The Centre has barred remedies against illegal encroachment on places of worship and pilgrimages and now Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs cannot file a suit or approach a high court under Article 226. Therefore, they won't be able to restore their places of worship and pilgrimage including temple endowments in spirit of Articles 25-26 and illegal barbarian act of invaders will continue in perpetuity."In March last year, Upadhyay's counsel had argued that the 1991 law violated the principle of secularism which is an integral part of the Preamble and a basic feature of the Constitution. The Supreme Court issued notice on March 12 on Upadhyay's plea, however it has not come up for hearing so far.Another petition was filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy in June 2020, challenging the 1991 law. The apex court on March 26, 2021, admitted the petition for hearing, and sought a response from the Centre.The Gyanvapi mosque case bears a striking resemblance to the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri dispute -- the matter is before the apex court, arising out of a civil suit. However, Shahi Idgah Mosque matter is still at the trial court stage.Both cases involve interpretation of a complex mesh of laws against the backdrop of constitutional rights of two different communities to practice their religious faith respectively. Both cases are likely to see arguments for exemption of places of worship which are over a century old. And, the efficacy of the 1991 law, will also be under scrutiny in both cases.Especially, when the Supreme Court, in the 2019 Ayodhya judgment, had said that the Act is intrinsically related to the obligations of a secular state and it reflects the commitment of India to equality of all religions. It will be interesting to see, how the Hindu parties skirt around the 1991 law or find gaps in the law to establish their claims - and also, the Muslim parties prepare their defence in view of the 1991 law. —IANS

Amid the row over discovery of a "Shivling" inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, a district court in Mathura, earlier this week, allowed a plea by the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Trust and other private parties, seeking ownership of the land on which the Shahi Idgah mosque is built.

Places of Worship Act to be put to test in Mathura mosque case too

Lucknow: Having realised the 'power of Hindu vote' in elections in India after 2014, the Gyanvapi mosque controversy has put the opposition parties in a Catch 22 situation.The opposition parties, particularly those in Uttar Pradesh, are unable to take a stand on the issue. If they back the Hindu petitioners, they will lose out on Muslim support, and if they side with the Muslims, they will be dubbed as 'anti-Hindu'.The Samajwadi Party, which is the main opposition party in Uttar Pradesh, has avoided taking a clear stand on the controversy though Akhilesh Yadav has been accusing the BJP of stoking communal issues for electoral gains.Akhilesh Yadav recently made a remark about the tendency among Hindus to place a stone and start worshiping it, and the entire BJP workforce came down on him accusing him of insulting the Hindu religion.The inherent power of such allegations has forced Akhilesh Yadav to beat a hasty retreat.The Samajwadi Party chief realises that for his political survival, he needs the support of Muslims as well as Hindus, and taking a side on the Gyanvapi row will pit him against one community.None of the top SP leaders, barring Muslim MPs like Shafiqur Rehman Barq and S.T. Hasan, have voiced their opinion on the issue.The Congress, too, has maintained a studied silence on the issue and its leaders, who often go overboard in announcing their opinion on such issues, have also remained quiet this time.Acharya Pramod Krishnam, known to be playing a proactive role in the party these days, however, went a step ahead and advised Muslims to hand over the Taj Mahal and Qutub Minar to Hindus.His statement earned him considerable flak within the party's WhatsApp groups and stunned him into silence. The Bahujan Samaj Party has also not gone beyond issuing a customary statement criticising the BJP for disturbing communal harmony in the country.What is politically significant in the situation is the silence of BJP's allies who have, so far, refused to be drawn into the controversy.The Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party and the Apna Dal have not issued any statement on the Gyanvapi issue, which indicates that they are playing it safe on the issue and also do not wish to upset their caste equations with the minorities. —IANS

Having realised the 'power of Hindu vote' in elections in India after 2014, the Gyanvapi mosque controversy has put the opposition parties in a Catch 22 situation.

As Gyanvapi Row Boils Over, SP, BSP, Cong Maintain Diplomatic Silence

New Delhi: A lawyer has filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court seeking impleadment in the Gyanvapi mosque case stating that a mosque constructed on temple land cannot be a mosque. The application was filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay who had earlier filed a petition challenging the Constitutional validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 (Act).It contended that a temple's religious character does not change after the demolition of roof, walls, pillars, foundation and even offering Namaz, it added."After the Pran Pratishtha of an idol, a temple is always a temple until the idol is shifted to another temple with the rituals of Visharjan. Moreover, the Religious Character of the Temple (Place of Worship) and Mosque (Place of Prayer) is totally different. So, the same law can't be applied to both," said the application.The application further stated, "The mosque constructed on temple land cannot be a mosque, not only for the reason that such construction is against Islamic law, but also on grounds that the property once vested in the deity continues to be deity's property and right of deity and devotees are never lost, howsoever long illegal encroachment continues on such property."It sought impleadment in the Gyanvapi case stating that only those places of worship should be protected, which were erected or constructed in accordance with the personal law of the person who erected/constructed them, but places erected or constructed in derogation of the personal law, cannot be termed as a 'place of worship'.However, the 1991 Act kept a cut-off date of August 1947 to legalise the illegal acts of barbaric invaders, it said.The application further stated, "Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs have right to profess, practice propagate religion as provided in their religious scriptures and Article 13 prohibits from making law which takes away their rights. Moreover, the status of the mosque can be given only to such structures which have been constructed according to tenets of Islam and mosques constructed against the provisions contained in Islamic law cannot be termed as Mosque."The 1991 Act seeks to protect the status of all religious structures as it stood on the date of independence by barring courts from entertaining cases which raise dispute over the character of such places of worship. It further provides that such cases already pending in courts would stand abated.The Act, however, carved an exception for the Ram-Janambhoomi site which was the basis for courts including High Court and Supreme Court to hear that matter. A lawyer has filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court seeking impleadment in the Gyanvapi mosque case stating that a mosque constructed on temple land cannot be a mosque.The application was filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay who had earlier filed a petition challenging the Constitutional validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 (Act).It contended that a temple's religious character does not change after the demolition of roof, walls, pillars, foundation and even offering Namaz, it added."After the Pran Pratishtha of an idol, a temple is always a temple until the idol is shifted to another temple with the rituals of Visharjan. Moreover, the Religious Character of the Temple (Place of Worship) and Mosque (Place of Prayer) is totally different. So, the same law can't be applied to both," said the application.The application further stated, "The mosque constructed on temple land cannot be a mosque, not only for the reason that such construction is against Islamic law, but also on grounds that the property once vested in the deity continues to be deity's property and right of deity and devotees are never lost, howsoever long illegal encroachment continues on such property."It sought impleadment in the Gyanvapi case stating that only those places of worship should be protected, which were erected or constructed in accordance with the personal law of the person who erected/constructed them, but places erected or constructed in derogation of the personal law, cannot be termed as a 'place of worship'.However, the 1991 Act kept a cut-off date of August 1947 to legalise the illegal acts of barbaric invaders, it said.The application further stated, "Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, Sikhs have right to profess, practice propagate religion as provided in their religious scriptures and Article 13 prohibits from making law which takes away their rights. Moreover, the status of the mosque can be given only to such structures which have been constructed according to tenets of Islam and mosques constructed against the provisions contained in Islamic law cannot be termed as Mosque."The 1991 Act seeks to protect the status of all religious structures as it stood on the date of independence by barring courts from entertaining cases which raise dispute over the character of such places of worship. It further provides that such cases already pending in courts would stand abated. The Act, however, carved an exception for the Ram-Janambhoomi site which was the basis for courts including High Court and Supreme Court to hear that matter.—ANI

A lawyer has filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court seeking impleadment in the Gyanvapi mosque case stating that a mosque constructed on temple land cannot be a mosque.

Advocate seeks impleadment in Gyanvapi case before SC

Varanasi: The Varanasi district court is likely to pronounce the verdict in the Gyanvapi mosque case on Tuesday. The district court on Monday completed the hearing of arguments in the case and reserved its order for today. Advocate Madan Mohan Yadav, representing the Hindu side, on Tuesday said that the Muslim side wanted the case dismissed. Speaking to ANI, he said, "Muslim side presented their arguments yesterday, they said that the matter doesn't meet the parameters of the Places of Worship Act. They wanted the matter dismissed. But we too presented our arguments before the Court."He further said that the court will hear the matter at 2 pm today. "The matter can't be dismissed just like that, it will sustain. It is not a matter of property but of the Right to Worship. The court will hear the matter at 2 pm today. The decision will be out probably by 4 pm," Yadav added.Varanasi District Judge Dr AK Vishvesha heard a civil suit in the case. The hearing began in Varanasi court after the Supreme Court said it would not interfere with the Gyanvapi mosque survey and transferred the case to the lower court while noting the "complexities and sensitivities involved in the matter" would require a "more senior and experienced hand".The bench said the District Judge should decide the maintainability of the civil suit in the case on priority as sought by Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Varanasi.After the survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi concluded, lawyers representing Hindu petitioners claimed that a Shivling was found in the Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gauri complex.The claim was disputed by the mosque committee members who said it was part of the water fountain in the wazoo khana. On May 16, the Varanasi court ordered the sealing of part of the mosque.The Supreme Court ordered the Varanasi district magistrate to ensure the area where a shivling was purportedly found is protected without obstructing the Muslim community's right to worship.The Court had appointed an official and a team of lawyers to conduct an inspection at Gyanvapi Masjid in Varanasi in connection with a plea seeking access to a Hindu temple behind it.A lawyer had also filed an intervention application in the Supreme Court seeking impleadment in the Gyanvapi mosque case stating that a mosque constructed on temple land cannot be a mosque.The application was filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay who had earlier filed a petition challenging the Constitutional validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991 (Act). Five Hindu women have sought round-the-year access to pray at "a shrine behind the western wall of the mosque complex". The site is currently made open for Hindu prayers once a year.—ANI

The Varanasi district court is likely to pronounce the verdict in the Gyanvapi mosque case on Tuesday. The district court on Monday completed the hearing of arguments in the case and reserved its order for today.

Gyanvapi Mosque case: Varanasi court to likely pronounce verdict today

Mangaluru: The district administration of Dakshina Kannada on Wednesday clamped prohibitory orders in the surrounding areas of the Malali mosque near Mangaluru city. Temple structure was found on April 21 during the renovation of the mosque, stirring a controversy. Following this, the court had ordered the mosque management to stop the work. The Hindu activists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal have decided to ascertain the truth about the mosque in the form of traditional way by posing "Tambula Prashne" before the priests on Wednesday (May 25).In coastal Karnataka, it is common practice to approach priests to know about the history of generations. It is widely practiced custom which people gave faith in. The Hindu activists will also put "Ashtamangala Prashne", after "Tambula Prashne", as the next step to ascertain the history of mosque. Astanangala Prashne is also a traditional Hindu astrology method which has more standing than Tambula Prashne.Mangaluru Commissioner N. Shashi Kumar has clamped prohibitory orders surrounding the Assayed Adbullahil Madani mosque at Malali. If the priest says that the Malali mosque was a temple once, the issue is likely to become controversial as the Hindu activists will proceed further legally and claim their rights over the mosque. The experts say that unlike Srirangapatna, if the row erupts over the Malali mosque, it is going to be a challenge for the administration. Malali town is located close to Mangaluru, which is regarded as the communally sensitive region. Any disturbance here will affect all three coastal districts. The region is considered as a bastion of the BJP.The Hindu activists have also started the movement for taking back Srirangapatna Jamia masjid in Mandya district. They have already submitted a memorandum to the district administration urging them to conduct verification of the masjid on the lines of Gyanwapi masjid. They have stated that if the government does not respond, they will approach the court. Hindu activists are claiming that the mosque has been built after razing down Hanuman temple.—IANS

The district administration of Dakshina Kannada on Wednesday clamped prohibitory orders in the surrounding areas of the Malali mosque near Mangaluru city. Temple structure was found on April 21 during the renovation of the mosque, stirring a controversy.

Malali mosque-temple row in K'taka; prohibitory orders clamped

Kabul: &nbsp;A blast tore through a mosque in Afghanistan's capital on Wednesday evening, killing at least five people, authorities and hospitals said, the same day deadly explosions hit passenger vehicles in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.A spokesman for the capital's commander said at least two people were injured in the blast on a mosque in Kabul. Emergency Hospital said in a tweet that it had received five bodies from the blast and more than a dozen wounded patients. A Taliban official who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak with media said explosives had been placed inside the mosque's pulpit and at least 11 people were dead.Three blasts in northern Balkh province killed at least nine and injured 15, Mohammad Asif Wazeri, a spokesman for Balkh province's commander told Reuters, adding the attacks targeted members of Shi'ia community, who are a religious minority in Afghanistan. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attacks.Growing violence in recent months has caused security challenges for the Taliban who took over the country in August as foreign forces withdrew. The Islamic State has claimed several attacks, often targeting the Shi'ia minority.—REUTERS

A blast tore through a mosque in Afghanistan's capital on Wednesday evening, killing at least five people, authorities and hospitals said, the same day deadly explosions hit passenger vehicles in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Blast tears through Kabul mosque, killing at least 5

Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party's Telangana president and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Wednesday said his party, when it comes to power in the state, would abolish minority reservations and provide the benefit to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and others. He also vowed to work against religious conversions and 'love jihad'."Shall we keep quiet if my sisters are trapped and cheated in the name of 'love jihad'. Hindu society will not tolerate if the poor are made to change their religion. Bandi Sanjay will not tolerate," he said. "We will make sure those who say 'love jihad' get a taste of&nbsp;lathi. We will act tough against those doing religious conversions," he said, addressing a 'Hindu Ekta Yatra' in Karimnagar on the occasion of 'Hanuman Jayanti'. Kumar referred to&nbsp;The Kashmir Files&nbsp;films and said 'Razakar Files' would be brought out soon to open the eyes of 'pseudo secularists' on the atrocities committed against 'Hindu society' by the 'Razakars' during the Nizam rule.Referring to claims of a 'Shivling' being found at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi, he 'challenged' the Owaisis of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and the 'pseudo secularists' to dig up mosques in Telangana and hand them over to Hindus if any sign of Lord Shiva is found there.He said madrassas where unlawful activities allegedly happened would be banned in Telangana when his party comes to power in the state.Kumar, known for his strong Hindutva views, also said minority reservations would be abolished when the BJP comes to power in the state and that the benefit would be provided to SCs, STs, backward classes and the poor among upper castes.—PTI

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Telangana president and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Wednesday said his party, when it comes to power in the state, would abolish minority reservations and provide the benefit to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and others.

Telangana BJP chief 'challenges' Owaisis to 'dig all mosques'

Varanasi: The Varanasi district court, hearing the civil suit on the Gyanvapi Mosque-Kashi Viswanath temple complex issue, will hear on Thursday an application by the Muslim side seeking rejection of the civil suit's claims on Gyanvapi Mosque. "The court has made it clear that it will hear the case on Order 7 Rule 11 on May 26. As per the court's order, a copy of the videography and photography will be made available. All the pending petitions will be heard on the same day," Advocate Madan Mohan Yadav told media persons on May 24.In the dispute, district and sessions judge AK Vishvesha will start hearing the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee's plea challenging the maintainability of the suit filed by the Hindu parties.The court has also directed all concerned parties to file objections to the report submitted by the commission that surveyed the mosque premises.The court of District Judge AK Vishevesh, while fixing the hearing on the maintainability of the Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri complex case, said that the court will hear the matter as per directions of the Supreme Court. Ranjana Agnihotri is expected to argue as part of the plaintiff Hari Shankar Jain's team. District Government Counsel Rana Sanjeev Singh said to reporters on May 24 that the court also gave a week's time to both Hindu and Muslim sides to file objections to the report of a court-mandated videography survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises.Also, on May 24, the court asked both sides to file an objection to the commission report and submit the report within one week, said Hindu petitioners' Advocate Vishnu Jain. The Hindu side has alleged that a Shivling (a representation of Lord Shiva) was discovered inside the mosque premises and the Muslim side claimed that the structure was part of the fountain at the mosque's wuzu khana area. Meanwhile, a few days ago, another civil suit was filed before a civil court in Varanasi, seeking the right to worship on the mosque premises.The suit, filed by one Kiran Singh, said the main case would take a considerable amount of time to be tried and that the Hindu worshippers should be given undeterred access to the mosque premises in the meantime. Significantly, on Wednesday, the civil judge in Varanasi transferred this suit to the fast-track civil court, which will hear the matter on May 30.—ANI

The Varanasi district court, hearing the civil suit on the Gyanvapi Mosque-Kashi Viswanath temple complex issue, will hear on Thursday an application by the Muslim side seeking rejection of the civil suit's claims on Gyanvapi Mosque.

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