Varanasi :Fragments of “idols” discovered by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) within a mound of debris at the Gyanvapi complex might have been discarded there by artisans who once operated from rented shops in a demolished building nearby, stated the mosque custodian Anjuman Intizamia Masajid (AIM) on Friday.
This assertion from the Muslim side prompted an immediate response from Vishnu Shankar Jain, the lawyer representing Hindu plaintiffs, who countered that such a claim lacked evidence. He referred to the ASI’s scientific survey report on the Gyanvapi, which purportedly provides detailed information about the recovered artifacts, including their age, era, diameter, and other pertinent details.
This debate ensued following the distribution of ASI’s report to both sides, revealing the alleged existence of a Hindu shrine predating the construction of the Gyanvapi mosque in the 17th century.
AIM announced its intention to consult legal experts to analyze the ASI’s findings further. Lawyer Akhlaque Ahmad indicated that the Hindu claim regarding the discovery of idols during the survey wasn’t substantiated by new evidence, and they would provide a more detailed response after reviewing the report thoroughly.
Speculating on the origin of the artifacts, Ahmad suggested that artisans, possibly the five to six sculptors who had rented shops in Chhattadwar, might have disposed of damaged idols and debris in the southern part of the mosque until it was enclosed with iron grilles in 1993. He proposed that the ASI might have retrieved these same artifacts during their survey.
The Varanasi district judge ordered the scientific survey in response to the Shringar Gauri case filed by five Hindu women seeking uninterrupted access to worship Hindu deities within the Gyanvapi complex.
Following the disclosure of ASI’s report, AIM officials, including Ahmad and joint secretary SM Yaseen, announced plans to convene a team of lawyers to scrutinize the findings thoroughly, seeking additional legal counsel before deciding on their next steps.
ASI officials declined to comment on the assertions made by the Muslim side. The report indicates that elements of a pre-existing temple, such as pillars and pilasters, were repurposed with modifications to expand the mosque and construct the “sahan.”
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