The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has been granted a 10-day extension by a Varanasi court to submit its report on the Gyanvapi mosque premises. This comes after the ASI requested an additional 21 days, which was opposed by the mosque committee. The scientific survey, which was completed a month ago, has already received three previous extensions.
The survey was initially ordered by a Varanasi court on July 21, following a request from four women who wanted permission to pray at the premises. In April of last year, the court ordered a video survey of the complex based on their petition. During the survey conducted in May, a structure was discovered in the Wuzukhana area, which the petitioners claimed was a ‘shivling’.
However, the scientific survey has been unable to examine the Wuzukhana area due to a Supreme Court order that prohibits access. The Gyanvapi mosque is situated next to the renowned Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Right-wing activists argue that a temple previously existed on the site, but was demolished in the 17th century under the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
The Gyanvapi dispute is the latest in a series of temple-mosque conflicts, following Ayodhya and Mathura, which propelled the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to national prominence in the 1980s and 1990s.
