Gyanvapi Masjid model made as temple at Kumbh; sale of agenda?

Prayagraj: The Kumbh Mela has been allegedly used as a stage to promote the Hindutva agenda after a model of the Gyanvapi mosque as a temple was exhibited there. The Gyanvapi, which is adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, is among a group of Islamic religious structures upon which claims were placed by Hindu groups, claiming that they were constructed after demolishing Hindu temples, The Telegraph reported.

Petitions have been filed in courts demanding the handing over of these structures to Hindus.

It was Swami Narendranand Saraswti, the mahant of the Sumeru Mutt in Varanasi, inaugurated the exhibition on Saturday. The Gyanvapi mosque model is designed with the upper half looking like a temple. The exhibition also displays 120 pictures of various parts of the mosque that feature Hindu figurines and symbols.

Some of these pictures claimed to be taken during the survey of the mosques in 2023, as per the orders of a local court in Varanasi. However, the court never disclosed the pictures taken during the surveys. The said pictures are with the court in a sealed envelope, and displaying them in public will result in court contempt.

However, the claim by the organisers is that the pictures were not sealed but taken by photography enthusiasts and were not classified.

The mahant said that they wanted to liberate the Gyanvapi mosque by constitutional means. He urged the “Sanatani people” to come forward and take on the mission.

Sri Adimahadev Kashi Dharmalay Mukti Nyas, a Varanasi organisation dedicated to “liberating” temples allegedly controlled by non-Hindus, is the organiser of the exhibition.

A trustee of the Nyas, Ram Prasad Singh, said that the organisation began a Mahayagnya at the mela camp on Saturday to publicise their mission. Towards this, they have erected banners and posters across the Mela area.