After the Supreme Court’s direction on the Dhar Bhojshala controversy, the Hindu side said that worship in the temple will continue. He said that there is no opposition to Namaz, but it should be outside the temple premises. SC has provided a nearby place for Friday prayers.
Dhar (Madhya Pradesh) [भारत]July 17 (ANI): Following the Supreme Court’s earlier direction allowing the Muslim community to offer Friday prayers at an open space adjacent to the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar, Sumit Chaudhary on Friday said worship at the Bhojshala temple will continue as usual and stressed that prayers should not be offered inside what he termed the temple complex. He said there was no objection to offering namaz, but insisted that it should be outside the temple premises. He further said that the daily schedule of puja at Bhojshala is unaffected, the morning aarti has already been completed and devotees are continuing to offer puja and darshan throughout the day. He told ANI, “Bhojshala is a temple and the puja there will continue as before. With regard to the namaz, the court said that alternative arrangements should be made at some other suitable open place outside the Bhojshala premises… There is no objection to the namaz, but it should not be offered at what it considers to be the temple premises. He says that the daily puja will continue as usual, the morning aarti has already been completed and darshan and prayers are continuing throughout the day.”
The Muslim community will offer namaz at an open space adjacent to the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex this afternoon.
Muslims should believe that this is a temple: Gopal Sharma
Earlier in the day, Bhojshala Mukti Yagya convenor Gopal Sharma said the Muslim community should accept that the Bhojshala complex is a temple and should respect the judicial process, while welcoming the Supreme Court’s interim order regarding Friday prayers. Speaking to ANI, Sharma said that they have been performing puja at the site every day since the Madhya Pradesh High Court recognized the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex as a temple. Sharma said, “We respect the judicial system of the country. We have been worshiping there ever since the High Court gave its verdict and accepted it as a temple. We are not looking at any particular day; we worship all seven days. The Supreme Court order is welcome, but I say Muslims should accept that it is a temple and respect the order.”
He further alleged that repeated demands for offering namaz at the disputed site were unnecessary. He said, “They have their own place, and in exchange for this place, they have already been given a mosque in 1942. Repeatedly asking for a new place, and insisting on offering namaz at this place, spoils the atmosphere of the city.”
Earlier in the day, Goddess Vagdevi was worshiped at the Bhojshala temple.
What is the interim order of the Supreme Court?
This comes after the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Center and the Madhya Pradesh government on a batch of petitions filed by the Muslim side challenging the High Court’s decision that the disputed 11th-century Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar district was deemed a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The Supreme Court said it would investigate the matter; As an interim measure, a separate open space adjacent to the campus may be provided to the Muslim community for offering prayers between 1 pm and 3 pm on Fridays.
Following the order, Gopal Sharma on Wednesday urged the district administration to make arrangements that namaz be offered outside the 300-metre radius of the Bhojshala premises, adding that he welcomed the Supreme Court’s interim decision. Speaking to ANI, Sharma said he believed the top court had effectively reiterated the May 15 order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on the matter. Sharma said, “I believe that the judgment given by the High Court on May 15 has essentially been reiterated in the Supreme Court. Bhojshala premises means the entire area within the 300 meter radius. Namaz can be offered anywhere outside that 300 meter radius. We welcome the Supreme Court’s decision but demanding alternative sites again and again after the namaz has already been offered at this specific place is completely inappropriate. is unjust.” (ANI)
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