Varanasi priest offers silver brick for construction of Ayodhya mosque

LUCKNOW :The chief priest of Varanasi’s famous Kailash Math and mahamandaleshwar of Niranjani Swami Ahutoshanand Giri on Wednesday announced to donate a silver brick for the construction of a mosque to be constructed on the 5 acre land in Dhannipur village of Ayodhya. The land was allocated to Uttar Pradesh Sunni Central Waqf Board (UPSCWB) in compliance of Supreme Court’s Ayodhya dispute verdict, dated November 9.

The priest said if in case the use of silver to lay a foundation of the mosque is prohibited, he is also ready to give a gold brick. “We would like to donate a silver brick for the construction of the mosque. And in case they have some religious issues in laying the foundation of the mosque with a silver brick, we are ready to donate a gold brick,” said Swami Ahutoshanand Giri, chief priest of famous Kailash Math and mahamandaleshwar of Niranjani.

Ashutoshanand Giri said the aim behind the move was to bridge the gap between the two communities and to set an example of communal harmony and brotherhood. “The move will set an example and would further strengthen up the bond between the communities,” he added.

Athar Husain, the spokesperson of the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF), the trust formed by the UPSCWB to ensure the construction of the mosque and other structures of public utility on the allocated 5 acre land, said, “Anything that aims to bring in harmony to the society is welcome. It’s a good gesture on their part.”

ASHUTOSHANAND GIRI SAID THE AIM WAS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO COMMUNITIES AND TO SET AN EXAMPLE OF COMMUNAL HARMONY AND BROTHERHOOD.