Gyanvapi Masjid News Update: Muslim side absent from ASI survey, reaches Supreme Court

The Muslim side representing the Gyanvapi mosque today abstained from participating in the scientific survey being conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. A 30-member team of ASI reached Gyanvapi at 6.30 am. The report will be presented before the court on August 4. The Muslim side claimed that they did not receive any notice from the ASI to participate in the survey. On the other hand, the ASI team stopped the survey for some time while waiting for the first Muslim side. However, the survey resumed as none turned up from the Muslim side. The petitioners from the Hindu side had reached the mosque in the morning itself and are participating in the survey.

Speaking to Zee News TV, the Muslim side represented by the Anjuman Intezamia Masajid Committee referred to their petition in the Supreme Court against the Varanasi District Court order allowing the scientific survey. Lawyers for the Muslim side, Mumtaz Ahmed and Raees Ahmed, said, “We have filed a petition in the Supreme Court. We will proceed as per the Supreme Court’s order. We had told the DM yesterday that we will not participate in the survey.”

ASI has started survey of Gyanvapi. 30 Rath ASI team reached Gyanvapi at 6.30 am. At the same time, the Muslim side i.e. Anjuman Sushilia Masid Committee ordered a hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday against the Varanasi District Court. Muslim side’s lawyers Mumtaz Ahmed and Rais… pic.twitter.com/mrnhcTasTf

– Zee News (@ZeeNews) 24 July 2023

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Mufti Abdul Batin Nomani of Gyanvapi Masjid claimed that if the survey was to be held tomorrow, the Muslim side would have been involved in it. He cited two reasons for his absence, first, no notice for participation from the ASI and second, his petition in the Supreme Court against the survey.

#today’s fresh news: Muslim side boycotted the survey of Gyanvapi campus

#Zee News What should the city say about survey boycott, listen#knowledgebacksurvey #ASI @anchorjia @nidhijourno pic.twitter.com/FaBLujRTvu– Zee News (@ZeeNews) 24 July 2023

Advocate Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi, appearing for the Hindu side, said that the result of the survey would be in favor of the Hindus. Talking to reporters, Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi said, “We are sure that the entire complex belongs to the temple. The result of the survey will be in our favour.”

Notably, a Varanasi court on Friday directed an ASI survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex, except the sealed ‘Vazukhana’ area.

Hindu side’s lawyer Vishnu Jain EXCLUSIVE on Zee News.. #knowledgebacksurvey #ASI @anchorjia @nidhijourno pic.twitter.com/CHBsBn8yqw– Zee News (@ZeeNews) 24 July 2023

The petition was filed in May this year by five women, who had earlier in another petition sought permission to offer prayers at the “Shringar Gauri Sthal” inside the temple premises. A structure – claimed by the Hindu side to be a “Shivling” and the Muslim side to be a “fountain” – was also found on May 16 last year during a court-ordered survey of the mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.