NEW DELHI: The Muslim side on Thursday moved the Supreme Court challenging a Madhya Pradesh High Court order that declared the disputed Bhojshala complex as a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Saraswati, while the Muslim side calls the 11th-century monument the Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Appeal Filed by Mosque Caretaker
The appeal was filed by Qazi Moinuddin, the caretaker of the mosque, challenging the High Court's order dated May 15. This legal move comes amid heightened communal tensions in the region.
End of 23-Year Worship Arrangement
For the first time in 23 years, namaz will not be offered at Bhojshala, effectively ending the long-standing arrangement that had divided the site for worship between the two communities. The arrangement dated back to a 2003 ASI order, which allotted Tuesdays to Hindus for prayers and Fridays to Muslims for namaz at the complex. The High Court struck down that order while directing the government to consider applications for allotting land elsewhere for the construction of a mosque.
Hindu organisations have been celebrating the ruling for nearly a week and plan to mark this Friday with significant fanfare. With communal tensions simmering, Dhar district collector Rajiv Ranjan Meena on Wednesday called a peace meeting and issued a firm advisory. The Madhya Pradesh government has announced that Bhojshala will be developed on the lines of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Security Measures and Tensions
Amid an undercurrent of tension, the administration is leaving nothing to chance, and heavy security has been deployed across the city. The government is taking proactive steps to maintain peace and order as the legal battle continues in the Supreme Court.
