Bhojshala issue: Muslims agree on token namaz

The Muslim leaders and clerics of Dhar on Thursday agreed on ‘token namaz’ on Basant Panchami in Bhojshala.

The Muslim leaders and clerics of Dhar on Thursday agreed on ‘token namaz’ on Basant Panchami in Bhojshala.

The barricades were set up at Bhojshala on Thursday. (HT photo)

This decision was taken in a meeting organized by district administration and police to sort out the Bhojshala issue.

More than 50 people from the Muslim community were present in the meeting in which senior officials including collector Sri Man Shukla and superintendent of police ( SP) Rajesh Hingankar were also present.

As per the sources present in the meeting, the Muslim leaders expressed that for the peace and harmony of the district and the region they agree on the “token namaz” to be held at Bhojshala anytime on Basant Panchami on February 12.

In 2013, in the similar way, administration had strategically stopped the pooja in the afternoon to allow the Muslims to offer token namaz. During this period, the police had also lathi-charged the restive devotees and beat up some of the saffron leaders who were raising slogans against chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

On Thursday, the Muslim leaders in the meeting also said that they will cooperate with the administration to contain any untoward incidents in the city on Basant Panchami.

On the other hand, the collector also talked to the media persons of the city and urged not to get trapped in any rumors.

The SP said that the police will now orgainse a peace march and all attempts will be made to prevent any untoward incident in the city. He further said that the whole district is declared as sensitive by the district administration and police are keeping a close eye on each and every sphere of the district.

It is believe that the goddess Sarswati temple was built by King Bhoj in 11 century AD. The mosque of Maulana Kamaluddin Chisti was built using the structural remains of the temple.

Things started boiling up after Babri Masjid demolition in December 1992 when Hindu outfits decided to make it a second Ayodhya at a Dharma Sansad held in Dhar in 1996.