Varanasi: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has commenced a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque complex, situated adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The ASI team arrived at the site on Monday with all the necessary equipment to conduct the survey.
Advocate Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, who is representing the Hindu side in the matter, expressed confidence that the survey’s outcome would be favorable to Hindus. He asserted that they firmly believe the entire premise to be that of a temple, and thus, the results will support their stance.
“We are sure that the whole premise is of temple only. The result of the survey will be favourable to us,”Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi said
Notably, a Varanasi Court on Friday gave directions to conduct as ASI survey of the Gyanvyapi mosque complex, excluding the ‘Wazukhana’ area which has been sealed.
Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi deemed the court’s decision as a pivotal moment in the case and hailed it as a turning point.
The court’s order came in response to a petition filed by the Hindu side, seeking a ‘scientific survey’ of the entire Gyanvapi mosque premises by the ASI. This plea followed an earlier request made by five women to pray at the ‘Shringar Gauri Sthal’ inside the shrine complex. During a court-mandated survey last year, a structure claimed to be a ‘Shivling’ by the Hindu side and described as a ‘fountain’ by the Muslim side was discovered in the mosque vicinity.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a petition today filed by the mosque management committee, challenging the Varanasi court’s order to conduct an ASI survey of the mosque complex. The situation remains under close scrutiny as the survey progresses and legal proceedings continue.
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