The survey of the controversial Gyanvapi Masjid began on Sunday morning and continued through noon amidst tight security in the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex in Varanasi. The survey was conducted by the Court Commissioner and the survey team consisted of the lawyers of both sides, police officers, the District Magistrate and government officials related to the survey.
Expressing satisfaction over the work done so far in and around the complex including the Maa Shankar Gauri temple, historian Ram Prasad Singh, who is also part of the survey team, said, “The evidence collected so far in the survey all suggests that this was a Hindu temple in its entirety and they (the Muslims) now do not have anything to counter this claim.” According to him, the survey team has found statues, statuettes on pillars, lotus petals, Sanskrit shlokas inscribed all around, symbols like Om and swastika and the likes. The rest of the survey will be completed on Tuesday, he said.
The survey team conducted video recording of three domes, and all walls, of the mosque, while the Vyas Ji room was also video recorded again. Hindus claim that there was another door in this room which has been closed. Survey of the western rampart of the mosque was also completed by the Court Commissioner. Hindus claim that this wall has symbols and other signs related to Sanatan Dharma engraved on it. The survey team will conduct video recording of that portion of the mosque on Monday where the faithful offer their namaz, after which a well will also be surveyed and video recorded. The survey team is expected to conclude their work by Monday.
In view of the situation which has the potential of turning into an unsavoury conflagration, the police cordoned off the road near the complex and shut all the shops within the 500-meter radius of the complex on the first day of the survey. No movement of people was allowed in the complex area.
Varanasi DCP R.S. Gautam on Gyanvapi Masjid said, “Darshan has been arranged for all. All the routes have been opened so that the visitors do not face any problems and police personnel have been accordingly deployed. Right now entry is being given to a member of the commission from one gate and devotees are having darshan from the rest.”
The ongoing survey of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque complex was ordered by a Sessions Court of Varanasi after a petition to allow pooja of Maa Shankar Gauri within the complex was filed by five women devotees. The court directive was challenged by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, representing the Muslim side to the dispute in the Allahabad High Court, which refused to stay the survey and the Supreme Court also did not entertain the appeal against the court order.