HYDERABAD: Amidst the scientific survey at the Gyanvapi complex, the All India Majilis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said that the observation of the Supreme Court regarding the Places of Worship Act in the landmark Ayodhya judgment must not be dishonoured.
Reacting to the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) survey at the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi, the AIMIM chief said, “One hopes that neither December 23 nor December 6 will repeat”.
“Once the Gyanvapi ASI reports are made public, who knows how things will pan out? One hopes that neither 23rd December nor 6th December will repeat. The observation of the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya judgement regarding the sanctity of the Places of Worship Act must not be dishonoured”, the AIMIM chief posted on Twitter, now known as X. “The hope is that the floodgates for a thousand Babris will not be opened”, he said.
Notably, a team of the ASI on Saturday morning resumed the court-ordered scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, adjacent to Kashi Vishwanath Temple, excluding wuzukhana. The survey began at around 9 am today amid tight security.
The scientific survey of the complex commenced on Friday amid tight security, following Allahabad High Court’s order, which allowed the ASI to conduct the survey, to determine if the mosque was built on a pre-existing temple.
On July 21, Varanasi district judge A K Vishvesha ordered the ASI survey of the Gyanvapi complex on an application moved by four Hindu women on May 16, 2023. The order of the district judge, however, excluded the wuzukhana (ablution pond area) of the complex, which has been sealed on the order of the Supreme Court.
Earlier on Friday, the top court declined to stay the scientific survey by ASI. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that ASI has clarified that the entire survey will be completed without any excavation and without causing any damage to the structure.
The entire process of scientific survey shall be concluded with non-invasive methodology, the bench ordered. “We reiterate the direction of the High Court that there shall be no excavation”, said the Supreme Court.
The bench noted that the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court took note of the affidavit of ASI that it is not carrying out any excavation during its survey and no part of the wall etc., will be touched. (ANI)