'Hand over Gyanvapi structure to Hindus', VHP demands after ASI report

A Hindu devotee outside Gyanvapi, in Varanasi. File Pic/PTI

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Saturday claimed the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) report has "reconfirmed" that the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi was constructed after demolishing a temple and demanded that the structure to be handed over to the Hindu community.

It also demanded that Hindus be permitted to offer "sewa puja" to the 'Shivlinga' found in the "so-called Wazukhana area" at the disputed site.

VHP in its press statement said that, "The Shivlinga in what was called the wazukhana leaves no doubt that the structure does not have the character of a Mosque. The discovery of the names including the Janardana, Rudra and Umeswara in the inscriptions found in the structure are the tell-tale evidence of this being a Temple."

The VHP's demands came after the ASI survey report on the Gyanvapi mosque complex was made public two days ago, with the lawyer representing the Hindu litigants claiming that the mosque was built after demolishing a pre-existing temple.

The ASI, an official and expert body, has submitted its report to the District Judge hearing the Gyanvapi matter in Kashi.

The International working president of Vishva Hindu Parishad and the senior advocate Alok Kumar on Saturday in a press statement said that, "The evidence collected by the ASI from the Gyanvapi structure reconfirms that the Mosque had been constructed after demolishing a magnificent temple. A part of the temple structure, particularly the western wall is the remaining part of the Hindu Temple. The report also proves that parts of the pre-existing Temple including pillars and pilasters were reused with modifications to extend the span of the mosque and in the construction of the sahan."

Alok Kumar also said, "The evidence collected and the conclusions provided by the ASI prove that the religious character of this place of worship existed on the 15th day of August, 1947, and as at present is of a Hindu Temple. Thus, even as per Section 4 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the structure should be declared as a Hindu Temple."

The VHP in its statement has put forth two main demands which are- the Hindus be permitted to offer Sewa Puja to the Shivlinga found in the so called Wazukhana area and that the Intezamia Committee should to agree to respectfully shift the Gyanvapi Mosque to another appropriate place and to handover the original site of Kashi Vishvanatha to the Hindu Society.

The VHP in its statement also said that, it believes that this righteous action shall be an important step towards creating amicable relations between the two prominent communities of Bharat.

(With PTI Inputs)