THE PEACE committee meeting, held today in Dhar to break the impasse over celebrating Basant Panchami festival at the disputed Bhojshala, ended without any compromise. The administration has, meanwhile, imposed prohibitory orders in Dhar.
Twenty additional companies of the Rapid Action Force and other security personnel have being stationed in the area transforming the district town into a cantonment.
Representatives of both the communities and senior administrative and police officials took part in the meeting. However, the Hindu organisations struck to their stand that since lakhs of people would come to take part in the celebration, it would not be possible to allow time to the Muslims to offer namaz.
The Hindu organisations wanted the Muslims to show magnanimity and not offer prayers on that day, which was not acceptable to the Muslim.
The peace committee members have again gone back to consult with their respective communities and another round of talks is expected late tonight.
Sources said that there is tremendous pressure on the members of the minority community from all around not to turn up to offer namaz on that day. But it has to be an unofficial decision to prevent any confrontation and also to ensure that the administration does not fall foul with the Central Government.
The ASI, which manages the Bhojshala, has said that Muslims should be allowed one hour’s time from 1 pm to 2 pm to offer their namaz, and the entire administration has said that they are committed to follow the wishes of the ASI. Officials sources told news agencies that prohibitory orders were imposed in view of Basantotsav and Friday ‘namaz’. The Hindu Jagran Manch, affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, that has been agitating for liberating the monument, urged the Muslim community to hand over the edifice to the Hindus for the entire day on February 3.
{{/usCountry}}The ASI, which manages the Bhojshala, has said that Muslims should be allowed one hour’s time from 1 pm to 2 pm to offer their namaz, and the entire administration has said that they are committed to follow the wishes of the ASI. Officials sources told news agencies that prohibitory orders were imposed in view of Basantotsav and Friday ‘namaz’. The Hindu Jagran Manch, affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, that has been agitating for liberating the monument, urged the Muslim community to hand over the edifice to the Hindus for the entire day on February 3.
{{/usCountry}}Manch president Radheshyam Yadav, however, denied that the organisation made an offer to instead conduct ‘namaz’ on Tuesday. Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code would be in force until February 10 and arms’ licenses have been suspended.
A yagna takes place once annually, on Basant Panchami, when Goddess Saraswati is propitiated at the monument that is under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India. Friday prayers take place regularly. It is after a long interval, that Basant Panchami has fallen on a Friday.
Meanwhile the Muslim community has demanded that the district administration make arrangements for smooth rendering of ‘Namaz’ on February 3. As per the ASI timetable, Hindus can worship from dawn to 12.30 pm and then from 3.30 pm till sunset while ‘Namaz’ can be offered from 1 pm to 3 pm.