An advocate of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee that manages the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday said petitioners’ claim about a ‘Shivling’ is misleading.
A court in Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi earlier ordered that a pond in the Gyanvapi Mosque complex be sealed over claims that a ‘Shivling’ had been found in the premises. The court order was based on a petition filed by an advocate that there was some concrete evidence that needed to be protected.
Stating that there is no Shivling in the Wajookhana, Rais Ahmad Ansari said, ‘There is only a fountain in the wajookhana in the Gyanvapi mosque. The structure, which the petitioners are claiming to be a Shivling is a fountain. It is a misleading claim.’
Ansari said this was ex-party order by the court and was given in a hurry. ‘We are not satisfied with the order and will challenge it soon.’
A Supreme Court bench, led by Justice DY Chandrachud, on Tuesday will hear an appeal filed by the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee against the Allahabad High Court order allowing a court-appointed commissioner to inspect, conduct a survey of the mosque, in which Hindus and Muslims claim to have worship rights.