Varanasi: The survey of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi resumed on Monday, August 7, 2023, at 10:30 AM amid a boycott threat from the Muslim side. The survey was halted on Saturday after the Muslim side refused to participate, citing security concerns.
The survey is being conducted by a court-appointed team of five engineers and lawyers. The team is tasked with inspecting the mosque and its premises to look for evidence of Hindu religious symbols.
The survey has been ordered by a Varanasi court in response to a petition filed by a group of Hindu devotees who claim that the mosque was built on the ruins of a Hindu temple. The Muslim side has denied these claims, saying that the mosque was built in the 17th century by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
The boycott threat from the Muslim side has raised concerns about the safety of the survey team. The Varanasi police have said that they will provide security to the team, but it remains to be seen whether the survey will be able to proceed smoothly.
The survey has been met with protests from both Hindu and Muslim groups. Hindu groups have welcomed the survey, saying that it will help to prove their claims about the mosque’s history. Muslim groups have condemned the survey, saying that it is an attempt to desecrate a place of worship.
The survey is likely to further polarize the Hindu-Muslim community in Varanasi. It remains to be seen what the outcome of the survey will be, but it is sure to be a hotly contested issue.
In addition to the security concerns, the survey has also been criticized by some historians and archaeologists. They argue that the survey is not based on sound scientific principles and that it is likely to damage the mosque.
The survey is scheduled to be completed by August 17. It remains to be seen whether the survey will be able to proceed smoothly and whether it will be able to provide any definitive answers about the mosque’s history.