On the occasion of Basant Panchami, thousands of devotees have thronged the disputed Bhojshala in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh to offer prayers to goddess Saraswati. Here special prayers and havans will be performed until sunset. Basant Panchami is coinciding with Jumma Namaaz and thus to maintain law and order situation in the city, over 8,000 personnel from the local police, CRPF, and Rapid Action Force have been deployed at the site. As per Supreme Court’s direction Juma prayers will be offered from 1 PM to 3 PM at a separate area at Bhojshala.
What preparation is done in Bhojshala?
With high possibility of communal clashes, more than 8,000 personnel from the local police, CRPF, and Rapid Action Force have been deployed here. CCTV cameras, drones and AI tech are being used to monitor. While hearing a petition filed by a Hindu Front for Justice on Thursday, the Supreme Court has given permission to Hindu side for day till sunset worship of Goddess Saraswati. At the same time, the top court also allowed the Muslim side to offer Jumma Namaaz from 1 PM to 3 PM. However, the court has directed the administration to make robust arrangements so that peace is maintained.
The bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Vipul Pancholi and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, appealed to communities to maintain harmony and avoid any kind of communal clash.
SP Dhar Mayank Awasthi said,” Detailed security preparations with deployment of police, CRPF and Rapid Action Force done.” The area has been divided into seven zones that are being monitored by SP-level rank officers. Apart from this real-time monitoring is being done with the help of drones and CCTV cameras. Dhar further shared, “We have used AI technology to detect any abnormal activity. Drones will be used to monitor the route to be taken by ‘Shobha Yatra’…As per SC orders, separate exit/entry points.” Adding to Dhar, Collector Priyank Mishra said, “Everything will happen without any hindrance.”
What is the dispute of Bhojshala?
Under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) this site is a protected site, however it has been claimed by Hindus as an ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati) and was built by Parmar king Raja Bhoja in the 11th century. At the same time Muslim community claimed it to be the Kamal Maula Mosque.
Earlier a massive vehicle rally was taken out in Dhar city by the Basant Utsav Committee, to get permission to pray throughout the day on January 23, Basant Panchami. During the rally four thousand people had participated and chanted the slogan of ‘Jai Shri Ram’. During the rally Mahant Shri Hari Hara Anand had called for uninterrupted prayers from sunrise to sunset on Basant Panchami.
