Hand over Varanasi's Gyanvapi structure to Hindus, demands VHP

Tribune News Service

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, January 27

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, a sister organisation of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological mentor of ruling BJP, on Saturday cited the Archaeological Survey of India report to demand the return of Varanasi's Gyanvapi structure that houses a mosque to the Hindu side.

The Hindus believe a Lord Shiva temple was razed to build the mosque at the site, with the matter in a Varanasi court.

International working president of VHP Alok Kumar on Saturday said that the evidence collected by the ASI, an official and expert body, 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," Kumar said.

He said the Shivling 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," he said.

Kumar also said that the evidence collected and the conclusions provided by the ASI do 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," he said.

The VHP said the Hindus be permitted to offer prayers to the Shiva Linga found in the Wazukhana area and also called upon the Intezamia Committee representing the Muslim side 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 believes that this righteous action shall be an important step towards creating amicable relations between the two prominent communities of Bharat," Kumar said.

The VHP was at the forefront of the Ram Mandir movement which culminated on January 22 with the inauguration of a temple to the deity, at the place of His birth, in Ayodhya.

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