In response to the findings presented by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which suggest the presence of a significant Hindu temple structure at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has put forth a request for the Gyanvapi structure to be "handed over to Hindus."
The ASI's survey indicates the existence of a Hindu temple predating the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Uttar Pradesh.
Following the dissemination of the ASI report to both parties involved in the Gyanvapi case, Alok Kumar, the Vishva Hindu Parishad working president and senior advocate, advocated for the transfer of the Gyanvapi mosque to a different "appropriate location" and proposed granting the land of the Gyanvapi complex to the Kashi Vishwanath Committee or the Hindu society.
"The presence of the Shivlinga in the area known as the Wazukhana leaves no room for doubt that the structure lacks the characteristics of a Mosque. The discovery of names such as Janardana, Rudra, and Umeswara in the inscriptions found within the structure serves as clear evidence of its former status as a Temple," stated Alok Kumar.
He further emphasized that the evidence gathered and conclusions drawn by the ASI "establish that the religious identity of this place of worship existed before August 15, 1947, and currently, it stands as a Hindu Temple."
"Therefore, even by Section 4 of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, the structure should be designated as a Hindu Temple," he added.
The VHP's statement outlined two significant demands:
1. Allowing Hindus to conduct Sewa Puja at the Shivlinga discovered in the designated Wazukhana area.
2. Urging the Intezamia Committee to agree to respectfully relocate the Gyanvapi Mosque to another suitable location and hand over the original site of Kashi Vishvanatha to the Hindu Society.
These requests follow the ASI's report, which hinted at findings indicating modifications made to the Hindu temple structure. The ASI report, inclusive of a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey, prompted inquiries into the historical layers present at the site.
During a press briefing on Thursday, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, highlighted, "The ASI has concluded that it is evident that a large Hindu Temple existed before the construction of the current structure. This is the definitive finding of the ASI."
Additionally, the report, according to the Hindu side, disclosed the discovery of inscriptions within the mosque structure belonging to an ancient Hindu temple, inscribed in Devanagari, Telugu, Kannada, and other scripts.
This survey was initiated after the Allahabad High Court's authorization for the ASI to continue its examination of the Gyanvapi mosque premises, affirming a directive from a Varanasi district court.
From August 4, the ASI conducted surveys of the Gyanvapi premises, excluding the wazookhana, a small reservoir utilized by Muslim devotees for ritual ablutions, to ascertain whether the 17th-century mosque was erected atop a pre-existing Hindu temple structure. The survey concluded on November 3.
