Bhopal, May 22, 2022 (PPI-OT):A Hindutva outfit, Sanskriti Bachao Manch, has claimed that the Jamia Masjid located in old Bhopal’s Chowk Bazar locality of Indian state Madhya Pradesh was built in the 19th century on a Shiva temple.

While the Gyanvapi mosque is being claimed by Hindu plaintiff, a similar issue seems to be brewing in Madhya Pradesh with a fresh instance surrounding the 19th century Jama Masjid located in Bhopal’s Chowk Bazar area. The issue gained momentum after a group of Hindutva activists met the state Home Minister Narottam Mishra over the matter.

Sanskriti Bachao Manch headed by Chandrashekhar Tiwari submitted a memorandum demanding a detailed survey of the Jama Masjid. Tiwari said that he is preparing to file a petition in the local court over the issue in the coming days.

“We have demanded a detailed archaeological survey of the Jama Masjid by the state government. We will also file a petition in the court seeking a survey and excavation to bare the history of the mosque built over a temple called Sabha Mandap’,” Tiwari told the press after meeting Mishra .

Notably, the same issue has been raised by another Hindutva outfit called the Hindu Dharma Sena’. However, this is not the only mosque’ in Madhya Pradesh that is being claimed these days. Earlier this month, an organisation called the Hindu Front for Justice’ filed a PIL in the high court claiming that the Bhojshala monument located in Dhar district belongs to the Hindu community.

Terming the Gyanvapi case a “diversionary tactic” of the ruling BJP, the Congress has demanded strict adherence to the provision of the 1991 Act in letter and spirit saying any kind of change in the status of places of worship would lead to a massive conflict.

Seeking maintenance of status quo at the places of worship, Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken said: “The matter is under the purview of the Supreme Court and we hope justice would be delivered as the case of Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute was decided on the basis of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which says that the religious character of a place of worship shall continue to be the same as it existed” on August 15, 1947.”

Dubbing it a “political” move, the Congress says its a “diversionary” tactic by the BJP to push the issues of inflation, unemployment and rupee downfall into the back-burner.

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