Twists and turns in the Shringar Gauri-Gynvapi masjid case of Varanasi circled a roundabout on Monday when the chief of a religious outfit said his social media post about backing out of a lawsuit was “misinterpreted” as he never meant this one in particular. Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh chief Jitendra Singh Bisen said he was speaking of withdrawing from five more cases related to Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Gyanvapi mosque with the intention of filing amended pleas.
Bisen reached the district court and alleged that his statement was misinterpreted and it’s a “conspiracy to disturb the country’s atmosphere”. “I made a one line announcement on social media that “VVSS chief would withdraw the case related to Kashi Vishwanath-Gyanvapi.”
Video team denied entry
The survey and videography of the Gyanvapi mosque premises, which began on Friday last amid tight security, was stalled on Saturday as the advocate commissioner and a team of lawyers were not allowed to enter and protests continued the second day.
The lawyer for respondent Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee (AIMC), meanwhile, requested a local court to change the advocate commissioner for the survey and videography. The court of civil judge (senior division) Ravi Kumar Diwakar directed the plaintiffs and advocate commissioner to present their side in this regard in court on the next hearing date. The committee claimed the current advocate commissioner is biased and working under pressure from the plaintiffs.
The advocate commissioner and lawyers arrived at the Gyanvapi premises in the afternoon to survey the Shringar Gauri temple in the complex, but a crowd of namazis gathered outside the premises. Police dispersed the crowd after sloganeering started.
The petitioners’ advocate Vishnu Jain said, “The court had given a clear order, but it was not followed. People from the Muslim community came and stood at the door. Thus the survey has been stopped. We will put our stand before the court on May 9,” he said.
