Appointment of official sought for survey of Mathura mosque
AGRA: An application moved before a local court in Mathura on Monday sought directions for the appointment of an advocate commissioner to conduct a spot inspection of the Shahi Eidgah mosque, adjoining the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi, to find any traces of presence of Hindu religious symbols.
The application was moved before the court of civil judge (senior division) Jyoti Singh by one of the petitioners in the Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi-shahi Eidgah dispute case, in which the petitioners have sought the removal of the mosque allegedly built on orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1669-70 near Lord Krishna’s birthplace. Hearing in the case is scheduled for Tuesday.
The application mentioned an order passed by a Varanasi court in the Gyanvapi mosque-shringar Gauri Sthal case, wherein an advocate commissioner was appointed to conduct survey of deities in the Kashi Vishwanath-gyanvapi complex.
“There are still remains of Hindu religion, including (religious markings such as) Om, Swastika and Sheshnaga (Hindu mythological serpent), within the Shahi Eidgah mosque which can prove it was originally Thakur
Keshav Dev Temple, which was demolished to construct a mosque,” said Mahendra Pratap Singh, counsel for the petitioner Thakur Keshav Dev Ji Maharaj. “These facts are important..., but those managing the Shahi Eidgah mosque are inclined to remove these symbols of Hindu religion. It is necessary that a survey... be conducted as being done at the Kashi Vishwanath-gyanvapi complex.”
Copies of the application have been provided to the lawyers of the Shahi Eidgah mosque, said lawyer Mahendra Pratap Singh, who is one of the petitioners.
Tanveer Ahmad, counsel for the management committee of the mosque, denied receiving a copy of the application. “These are delaying tactics by the petitioners and such an application... cannot be heard at this stage when the Shahi Eidgah management committee has challenged the maintainability of the suit.”