In light of the the Gyanvapi mosque survey in Varanasi, a local court in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, has agreed to consider a similar request for videography of the Shahi Idgah mosque, which is located near Krishna Janmabhoomi temple.
According to the petition, the mosque was built on a portion of land that originally belonged to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi temple. They claim that 13.37 acres of land was demolished upon which the mosque was then built. They are now demanding that the mosque be removed and the land returned to the temple.
Manish Yadav, Mahendra Pratap Singh, and Dinesh Sharma were among the petitioners who asked for the appointment of an advocate commissioner to conduct the video survey in the Shahi Idgah mosque grounds in Mathura. As reported by the Indian Express, the petitioners have requested this in order to ascertain the “existence of Hindu artefacts and ancient religious inscriptions on the mosque premises.”
The plea adds that “In the recent Rakhi Singh vs Government of Uttar Pradesh case, the manner in which a Shiva Linga was found in the Gyanvapi mosque, Varanasi, the defendants were protesting there for this very reason. The same situation is seen in the aforesaid matter pertaining to the disputed property of Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi. In its real sanctum sanctorum, there are remains of Lotus, Sheshnag, Om, Swastik and other symbols of the Hindu religion. Some of them have been removed while the defendants are now trying to remove the others.”
The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow Bench had previously ordered the Mathura court to dispose all cases relating to the Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah mosque controversy within four months on May 12. The High Court further stated that if the Sunni Waqf Board and other parties do not participate in the hearing or if attempts are made to stall the case, the court has the authority to issue ex-parte orders.
