Bhopal, In a move reminiscent of disputes over Ayodhya’s Babri Masjid and Varanasi’s Gyanvapi Masjid, a Hindutva outfit has now focused its efforts on the Bhojshala mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh, India, claiming it was originally a temple. The group, Hindu Front for Justice Trust, has petitioned the Madhya Pradesh High Court to direct an archaeological survey to determine the true nature of the site located in Dhar city.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the Trust is pressing the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for a thorough investigation to ascertain whether Bhojshala is historically a temple or a mosque. This request comes despite the ASI referring to a 1902 survey that concluded further investigation was unnecessary, with its findings already submitted to the court.

The Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society, associated with the mosque within the complex, countered the petition by highlighting a 2003 court ruling that allowed worship within the premises on specific days, questioning the need for a new petition. Nevertheless, the petitioner insists on a detailed survey under the Worship Rights Act.

The High Court, having listened to the arguments from all sides, has reserved its decision regarding the Hindutva outfit’s request. This development places Bhojshala at the center of a growing campaign by Hindu groups to reclaim what they assert to be a temple site, invoking strategies similar to those used in the Gyanvapi mosque case. These efforts aim to achieve legal acknowledgment of Hindu claims to the site, amidst a backdrop of complex religious and historical claims.

The push for a scientific examination of Bhojshala’s origins coincides with a recent Varanasi court decision allowing Hindu prayers at a specific location within the Gyanvapi mosque complex in Uttar Pradesh. The ongoing controversy highlights the deep-seated religious and emotional ties both communities have to the site, with Muslim worshippers firmly opposing any changes to its current status as a mosque.