Representing the Hindu side, lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain said that there are continuous attempts made by the members of the Muslim community, who are going to offer ‘namaz’, to ‘demolish’ the cellar.

Varanasi: In a latest development to the Gyanvapi case, the Hindu’s side has filed a plea in the Varanasi District Court, urging it to protect the ‘Vyas Ka Tehkhana’ (cellar), where the Hindus have been worshipping after the court’s order in January.

Representing the Hindu side, lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain said that there are continuous attempts made by the members of the Muslim community, who are going to offer ‘namaz’, to ‘demolish’ the cellar.

“There is a very important thing that has developed in Gyanvapi after the order passed by the district judge of Varanasi on January 31, 2024. After that order, it has so happened that there are continuous attempts made by the members of the Muslim community who are going to offer ‘namaz’ there every day, to demolish the cellar,” Advocate Jain said while speaking to ANI.

He further said the Muslims are visiting the site in large numbers to offer ‘Namaz’, so that the roof can be damaged and the ‘Puja’ can be stopped.

“They are coming in large numbers over the set cellar so that the roof can be demolished and in turn, the ‘pooja’ can be stopped. So these are the attempts made by the members of the Muslim community. We have filed an application before the district judge of Varanasi wherein we have asked that the namazis must be restricted so far as their entry is concerned over the roof of the cellar,” said Vishnu Shankar Jain.

“Apart from that, the repair work must be conducted in the set cellar so that the ‘pooja’ which has been ordered by the court can go on without any hindrance,” he added.

On January 31, the Varanasi district court allowed the Hindu side to offer prayers in the southern cellar of Gyanvapi mosque, after the ASI report which found evidence of a Hindu temple at the site.

The Masjid Intezamia Committee of Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi, later, filed a revision petition in Allahabad High Court against the Varanasi District Court’s order allowing Hindus to perform prayers inside the southern celler of Gyanvapi mosque. However, the same was declined by the High Court.

(With inputs from ANI)