Dhar (Madhya Pradesh) [India], July 17 (ANI): Following the Supreme Court’s earlier directive, which allowed Muslim community to offer Friday namaz at an open space adjacent to the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar, Sumit Chaudhary of the on Friday said that worship at the Bhojshala temple would continue as usual and maintained that namaz should not be offered within what he described as the temple complex.
He said there was no objection to the offering of namaz, but asserted that it should take place outside the temple premises. He added that the daily schedule of worship at Bhojshala remained unaffected, with the morning aarti already completed and devotees continuing to offer prayers and perform darshan throughout the day.
“Bhojshala is a temple and that worship there will continue as before. Regarding namaz, the Court said that alternative arrangements should be made outside the Bhojshala premises at another suitable open location… There is no opposition to namaz itself, but it should not be offered within what he regards as a temple complex. He adds that daily worship will continue as usual, with the morning aarti already completed and darshan and prayers continuing throughout the day,” he told ANI.
The Muslim community will offer namaz at an open space adjacent to the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex this afternoon.
Earlier in the day, Bhojshala Mukti Yagna Convener Gopal Sharma said the Muslim community should accept that the Bhojshala complex is a temple and respect the judicial process, while welcoming the Supreme Court’s interim arrangement regarding Friday namaz.
Speaking to ANI, Sharma said they have been offering prayers at the site every day since the Madhya Pradesh High Court recognised the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex as a temple.
“We respect the country’s judicial system. When the High Court gave its verdict and accepted it as a temple, we have been worshipping there since then. We are not looking at any specific day; we worship all seven days. The Supreme Court’s order is welcome, but I say that Muslims should accept that this is a temple and respect the order,” Sharma said.
He further alleged that repeated demands to offer namaz at the disputed site were unnecessary.
“Their own place is different, and in exchange for this place, they were already given a mosque in 1942. Asking for a new place time and again, and insisting on offering Namaz at this location, spoils the atmosphere of the city,” he said.
Earlier in the day, worship of Goddess Vagdevi was performed at the Bhojshala temple.
This comes after the Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to Centre and the Madhya Pradesh govt on a batch of appeals filed by the Muslim side challenging the High Court verdict, which held the disputed 11th-century Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar district as a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
The Supreme Court said it will examine the case; as an interim measure, a separate open space adjacent to the complex may be provided to the Muslim community for offering namaz on Friday between 1 pm and 3 pm.
Following the order, Gopal Sharma on Wednesday urged the district administration to make an arrangement that Namaz is offered outside the 300-metre radius of the Bhojshala complex, saying they welcome the Supreme Court interim ruling.
Speaking to ANI, Sharma said he believed the apex court had effectively reiterated the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s May 15 order regarding the matter.
“I believe the decision delivered by the High Court on May 15 has essentially been reiterated in the Supreme Court. The Bhojshala complex means the entire area within a 300-metre radius. Namaz may be offered anywhere outside that 300-metre radius. We welcome the ruling of the Supreme Court but repeatedly demanding alternative sites after having already offered Namaz at this specific location is entirely unreasonable. This is completely unjustified,” Sharma said. (ANI)
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