Varanasi: The Uttar Pradesh unit of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) has demanded a ban on offering namaz at the Gyanvapi mosque complex during the Hindu month of Shravan, claiming it hurts the religious sentiments of devotees visiting the adjoining Kashi Vishwanath temple.
In a letter submitted to the temple administration, Uttar Pradesh Shiv Sena deputy chief Ajay Chaubey urged authorities to prohibit prayers at the mosque during Shravan and warned of protests if the demand was not accepted.
Chaubey said the letter was handed over during the annual meeting of the temple administration.
"We have informed the temple administration that devotees are emotionally disturbed when namaz is offered at the mosque complex during the holy month of Shravan," he said.
Claiming that the Gyanvapi complex includes important Hindu religious sites such as Shringar Gauri, Kashi Vishwanath temple and Adi Vishweshwar temple, Chaubey said large numbers of Kanwariyas queue up for darshan during Shravan.
"When people wearing caps enter the Gyanvapi complex for namaz, devotees feel disturbed and believe it amounts to an insult to Sanatan Dharma. We have requested the temple administration to stop namaz at the mosque complex during Shravan," he said.
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The month of Shravan begins from July 30 this year and will continue till August 28.
According to Chaubey, the temple administration assured the delegation that it would consider the demand.
The Gyanvapi complex, located adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, has been at the centre of a long-running legal dispute. Hindu litigants claim the mosque was built after demolishing a pre-existing temple and have sought the right to worship at sites within the complex, including Shringar Gauri. The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee has contested these claims. The matter is in court.
