Was Gyanvapi mosque built upon a temple? Survey claims finding temple debris
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Varanasi: The two reports submitted before a Varanasi court as findings of a videography survey held at the Gyanvapi mosque on May 6-7 claimed to have found debris such as bells, kalash, and flowers, which are believed to have been in use in old temples.
While one report claimed that the debris have found at the corner of the northern and western walls outside the barricading and outer area of the mosque complex, another report submitted as a videography survey about the inner area of the Gyanvapi mosque.
Ajay Kumar Mishra, who was the Advocate Commissioner in charge of overseeing the videography survey, said that structures of gods and goddesses, lotus and remnants similar to things found in the old temples were spotted at the corner of the northern and western walls outside the barricading.
A day after the survey, Mishra was removed from his post for leaking the survey report. He stressed that the survey was held under his lead, and it was not inside the mosque complex but outer area. Despite his removal, he filed the survey report before the court as he found necessary to have the report be read in the court.
A 12-page report of survey held on May 14, 15 and 16 jointly by advocates Vishal Singh, Ajay Pratap Singh and Ajay Kumar Mishra was also presented before the court. Apart from a written report, video recordings of the survey were also submitted before the court as the evidence. The reports are said to be the surveys held inner area of the Gyanvapi mosque.
As diverse versions of the survey reports come out, these form an apparition over the Mosque authority, who fears the fate of Babari masjid may befall on the mosque.
Meanwhile, Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side who pleaded to the Supreme Court for bringing additional facts and documents related to the survey, claimed that the report clearly points to a temple which was destroyed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He added that the reports show no forceful possession of the temple could change the nature of the property as a religious structure and the ownership rights of the existing deity.
Anjuman Intezamia Masajid authority urged the court to take cognizance of diverse opinions that are being formed in the public over secrecy of the Commission report and leakage of the report could pose a security threat to the Gyanvapi mosque and Kashi Vishwanth temple. The court should act on it by fixing the matter, it said.
