Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Another disputed temple/mosque site will come under the lens of the Archaeological Survey of India after Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque. This time, it is the Bhojshala at Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar, where it has to conduct a survey. The order came from the Madhya Pradesh High Court on March 11 following a petition by the right-wing group Hindu Front.
“Get the survey done. Photos and videos should be made. The report should be given to the court before April 29, during the next hearing,” said the bench of Justices SA Dharmadhikari and Dev Narayan Mishra.
The ASI has been asked to use all the methods and state-of-the-art equipment at their disposal, including Ground Penetration Radar System and carbon dating to ascertain the age of the structure.
The petitioners have asked for the right to daily worship at the site if a survey shows the existence of a temple.
The site at Dhar, where a temple complex dedicated to Goddess Saraswati exists, has long been a cause of friction. Currently, worship is allowed only on Vasant Panchami. The rest of the year, namaz is offered at the Kamal Maula Masjid.