Madhya Pradesh High Court Bhojshala Verdict Sparks Temple vs Mosque Debate | ASI Report Controversy

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]On Friday, the court recognized the Bhala complex in Dhar as a temple that's dedicated to goddess Vag Dvi while setting aside the 2003 ASI arrangement that allowed Muslims to offer Friday prayers at the Kamill Mala mosque in one section of the site. The Muslim side quickly said that they will appeal this verdict in the Supreme Court but they haven't done so far. The real storm though brewed politically. Congress's senior leader and former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Digay Singh questioned the legal and constitutional implications of this judgment. He argued that an ASI protected monument cannot simply be treated as an active religious site. At the same time, the AllIndia Muslim personal law board or the AIMPLB announced that it will challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court. For years, the ASI sign boards and administrative arrangements had recognized the site as Bhala Kamill Mola Mosque, effectively acknowledging that it was a shared religious character. So, what's changed now? Post this survey. Was this new archeological evidence truly decisive?

[00:00:58]they ask. Or has the interpretation merely changed? Now, while supporters argue that the ASI survey uncovered architectural and inscriptional evidence that points towards a pre-existing Saraswati temple, opponents and critics have seen a troubling pattern that emerges. They claim it was Aayodha first, then he went for Matra and Ganbapi and now a pattern where archeological findings are increasingly becoming the basis for redefining the religious identity of these structures.

[00:01:24]Diguja Singh questioned the very basis of the Bhala verdict. Singh claimed that the ESI had found no conclusive evidence of a temple at the disputed site. He spoke about a certain report that came in back in 2003. He raised concerns over whether archaeology is now being interpreted to a political lens. He cited an ASI report like I said was almost two decades ago to substantiate his claim. But the opposition to this verdict is not just political. Jamaati hint chief Arjad Madini has gone one step further. He alleged that there is an organized propaganda against Islam and the Muslim community in this country. Madni said there is a growing pattern of action that targets Muslims and Islamic symbols across the country.

[00:02:03]What the Guja Singh said is that ASI monuments cannot be used for active prayer but that's not the case and there are several examples of that here in India. The Taj Mahel is one of the most prominent site perhaps. Muslims are permitted to offer Friday prayers at the mosque inside the complex continuing a practice that was established before it became an ASI protected site. Prayers occur at specific active mosques and shrines across the country like those that are situated in the Kutum archaeological area here in the national capital or at the NI mosque or Lumat.

[00:02:32]This provides attendees uh a chance to prayer provided they adhere to pre-approved entry protocols. It's not just temp it's not just moss there are temples as well. The lingerage temple in Odisha is maintained both by the ASI and a temple trust. There are daily prayers and rituals that continue as they have for centuries. There are churches as well in this country which are ASI protected monuments but again prayers do take place