Varanasi: In a significant development in the ongoing Gyanvapi mosque dispute, a Varanasi court on Wednesday granted Hindus the right to offer prayers inside the previously sealed “Vyas Ka Tekhana” area, located in the basement of the mosque complex.
This ruling comes as a major victory for the Hindu petitioners, who have long claimed historical rights to the disputed site. The plea for access to the basement was filed by Shailendra Kumar Pathak Vyas, head priest of the Acharya Ved Vyas Peeth temple, seeking worship of “Shringar Gauri” and other deities believed to be present in the cellar.
The court’s order allows the priest and his companions to enter the designated area for prayer purposes. To facilitate this, authorities have been directed to make necessary arrangements, including modifications to the existing steel fencing, within seven days.
It’s important to note that the court has also invited objections from the defendants, including the Gyanvapi mosque management committee (Anjuman Intejamia Masajid), before the next hearing scheduled for February 8th.
This latest development adds a new layer to the complex legal battle surrounding the Gyanvapi site. While the Hindu petitioners celebrate this access to the disputed basement, the mosque management committee is expected to raise their concerns in the upcoming hearing.
