A day after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) initiated a survey of the disputed Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar, Abdul Samad, the petitioner representing the Muslim side, expressed dissent regarding the court-directed exercise.
In a statement to ANI on Saturday, Samad voiced concerns about the changes observed at the complex, indicating that previous surveys had already been conducted, with reports publicly available. He emphasized opposition to the new survey, highlighting alterations to the monument and activities within the complex since the last assessment.
Samad mentioned legal actions taken, stating that they had approached the Supreme Court, challenging the high court’s directive for a new survey and the subsequent submission deadline of April 1.
Criticizing the recent survey conducted by ASI, Samad questioned its significance, particularly noting the absence of representation from the petitioner opposing the survey. He argued that the court had mandated the presence of both sides’ petitioners for the survey to proceed and criticized the lack of prior notification to facilitate their participation.
Earlier, on Friday, advocate Shreesh Dubey, representing the Hindu side, informed the media about ongoing court proceedings and the commencement of the survey by ASI.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court had recently permitted ASI to conduct the survey at the disputed site. Dhar Superintendent of Police, Manoj Kumar Singh, affirmed that security arrangements would be made to ensure the peaceful completion of the survey, in compliance with the court’s directives.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain confirmed the court’s decision, specifying the need for a comprehensive inquiry by ASI to ascertain the true nature of the complex.
The court’s order emphasized the importance of the ASI’s statutory duty and underscored the necessity for a thorough investigation to determine the true character of the Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque complex. It also stipulated that the right to worship and perform rituals would be considered only after receiving the expert committee’s report.
