Gyanvapi case: Day after Varanasi court order, devotees offer prayers in mosque cellar amid tight security

A day after the Varanasi court granted permission to Hindu petitioners to conduct prayers inside the ‘Vyas Ka Tekhana’ area located in a cellar inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex, devotees initiated daily rituals and puja on Thursday amid tight security arrangements.

“In compliance with the order of the Varanasi court, the state government and district administration have made amendments to the barricading, and daily puja has started in ‘Vyas parivar Tehkhana’,” Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, told ANI.

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“It was very quick for the state government to stop the puja, and so it is very quick under this state government to comply with the court’s order,” he added. On Wednesday, District Judge Ajay Krishna Vishvesha instructed the Varanasi district administration to make necessary arrangements for the Puja within seven days.

Varanasi District Magistrate Rajalingam confirmed the removal of barricades and visuals from outside the temple captured the joyous expressions of devotees who took part in prayers within Gyanvapi. “We saw the Nandi bull. We have been waiting since yesterday to offer prayers. The temple should be built. We are very happy after offering prayers.”

Also Read:Days after ASI report made public, VHP says ‘hand over the Gyanvapi structure to Hindus’

The devotees were heard chanting ‘Har-Har Mahadev’. Expressing extreme happiness and emotion, Advocate Dheerendra Pratap Singh, a devotee, remarked, “We all come here by 3:00 am every day for Darshan. We are extremely happy and emotional with the court’s order. Our happiness knows no bounds as we now have the right to have ‘Darshan’ of our God. We would like it to be opened to the general public as soon as possible.”

Also Read:Gyanvapi case: Varanasi court allows Hindu petitioners to offer prayers at sealed mosque basement

On the other hand, the court’s directive did not sit well with the Muslim side and they have announced their intention to challenge the Varanasi court’s decision in the Allahabad High Court.

Akhlaq Ahmed, the lawyer representing the Muslim side, stated, “We will approach the Allahabad High Court against the decision. The order has overlooked the Advocate Commissioner’s report of 2022, ASI’s report, and the decision of 1937, which was in our favor. The Hindu side has not presented any evidence that prayers were held before 1993. There is no such idol in the place.”

The mosque comprises four ‘tehkhanas’ (cellars) in the basement, one of which remains in the possession of the Vyas family, former residents of the complex.