Gyanvapi Masjid: Why Did Masajid Committee Threaten To Boycott ASI Survey

Varanasi: The Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee on Sunday alleged that rumours were being spread in the media that statue, trident and Kalash were found in one of the cellars of Gyanvapi mosque complex and threatened to boycott the survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

In a statement issued here Joint Secretary of the Intezamia Committee, which manages the day-to-day affairs of the Gyanvapi mosque, Syed Mohhamad Yasin claimed that rumours were being spread in the media that a small statue, trident and Kalash were found under one of the cellars of the Gyanvapi mosque complex on Saturday during the ASI survey.

"These rumours have created an atmosphere of fear in the Muslim community and have hurt their sentiments," he said.

In his statement, Yasin said that if the rumours were not checked then the Muslim side will not cooperate with the ASI team and will boycott the survey proceedings. "We even informed the District Magistrate over the phone about the rumours being spread and also said that the Muslim side will not cooperate with ASI team and will boycott the survey once again till the rumours are not stopped," Yasind said.

'None of ASI members issued any statement'

He said, "When none of the members of ASI issued any statement, how rumours are being spread that a statue, trident and Kalash were found under one of the cellars of Gyanvapi mosque complex on Saturday?"

Meanwhile, the ASI continued with the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi complex on the third consecutive day on Sunday. The counsel of the plaintiff Sudhir Tripathi said that a DGPS instrument was being used in the survey and domes of the mosque were surveyed that also included the western side wall of the mosque.

More than 30 ASI team members entered the Gyanvapi complex at around 9 am and continued the survey till 12:30 pm and after a break, the survey resumed at 2 pm and continued till 5 pm. Counsels of both sides, including the plaintiff and the defendant, were present during the exercise.

Tripathi claimed that some small artefacts were found under the debris during the cleaning of the cellars of the Gyanvapi mosque on Friday and Saturday. The mapping, framing and scanning are being done of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, he said.