Peace prevailed at the disputed 11th-century Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district on Friday as Hindus performed puja to mark Basant Panchami festival while Muslims offered namaaz within the same premises but at a different location.
Hindus will offer prayers from sunrise to sunset on Basant Panchami while Muslims to offer namaz from 1 pm to 3 pm on Friday.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Monday submitted its scientific survey report of the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal-Maula mosque complex to the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court.
The security has been stepped up in view of the Friday prayers to be offered by the Muslim community members at the site, a police official said.
The application filed by the Hindu Front of Justice, which is the original petitioner in the case before the Madhya Pradesh high court, and others said that after the April 1 order of the apex court, proceeding before the HC has also virtually stayed.
Hindus offered prayers at the contentious Bhojshala/Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district on Tuesday, with a team from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) continuing its court-mandated survey.
Hindus consider Bhojshala, an Archaeological Survey of India-protected 11th century monument, to be a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim community call it Kamal Maula Mosque.
However, a division bench of Justices SA Dharmadhikari and Gajendra Singh made it clear the ASI won't be given any more time at the end of this 8-week period.
Aggrieved by the direction, Dhar city's head cleric Waqar Sadiq said they (Kamal Maula Mosque management committee) will challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court.
The ASI team, comprising more than a dozen members, reached the complex in the morning.
The Supreme Court's 2023 order refusing to stay a scientific survey at the Gyanvapi Mosque complex has sparked claims over several other disputed places of worship across India. This has led to several court cases, including one in Mathura where a survey of the Shahi Idgah Mosque complex was ordered, and another in Ajmer where a claim was made that a Shiva temple existed within the dargah of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti. The article also highlights a dispute over the Bhojshala in Madhya Pradesh, which Hindus consider a temple and Muslims consider a mosque. The Supreme Court's order has reignited debates about the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which prohibits the change of character of religious places as they existed on August 15, 1947.
He said the Muslims have rejected the idea of keeping the shrine open for Hindus for the whole day on Tuesdays.
Nearly 600 people turned up to offer prayers at the complex in Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh.
Agitated activists pelted stones at the police prompting the latter to fire teargas shells.
The Madhya Pradesh unit of the party also backed the Hindu Jagran Manch demand that Muslims should not be allowed to offer namaz inside Bhojshala.
The Hindu Jagran Manch has threatened to force its way into the complex around noon, despite orders to the contrary.
Tourism Minister Jagmohan said the safety and security of the monument was the responsibility of the collector and district magistrate and the state government.
The Dhar district administration in a report had suggesting reopening the Bhojshala-Kamaal Maula mosque.
The Delhi high court while hearing a petition challenging the ASI order opening up the disputed Bhojshala shrine said its counterpart in MP should decide the issue.
The Dhar district administration has recommended that the Bhojshala-Kamal Moula mosque be kept open every Friday from 1300 to 1500 hours IST to enable Muslims to offer namaz and every Tuesday from 0900 and 1100 hours IST for Hindus to offer prayers.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Acharya Dharmendra warned the Madhya Pradesh government that unless criminal cases filed against Bhojshala devotees since 2006 were withdrawn "unconditionally" by March 9, religious leaders would take nationwide action.
Police resorted to lathicharge and cleared the Bhojshala.
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