Madhya Pradesh: ASI begins survey of Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex

The Archaeological Survey of India on Friday began its survey of the Bhojshala temple and Kamal Maula mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, reported The Indian Express.

On March 11 the Madhya Pradesh High Court had directed the Archaeological Survey of India to carry out the survey. The court passed the direction on a plea by a group called the Hindu Front for Justice, who have claimed that the mosque was constructed by “destroying” Hindu temples.

The 11th-century building, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, is claimed by both Hindus and Muslims. While the Hindus believe that the Bhojshala is a temple dedicated to the deity Vagdevi, or Saraswati, the building is a mosque for the Muslim community.

Under an arrangement made by the Archaeological Survey of India on April 7, 2003, Hindus perform prayers on the premises on Tuesdays and Muslims offer namaz in the complex on Fridays.

“Videography has been done at the places where marks are present, and all the marks have been secured,” Gopal Sharma, coordinator of the Bhoj Festival Committee, told The Indian Express on Friday. “The areas where the survey is to be conducted in the future have been marked.”

No authorised member of the Muslim community was present during the survey, Dhar town’s head cleric Waqar Sadiq told The Indian Express. He...

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