LUCKNOW: As tremors from Ayodhya continue to rock the nation, another time bomb has started thinking Varanasi. Despite reinforced security, every Monday and Friday comes as a day of foreboding for authorities as large crowds steam into narrow alleys where the contentious Kashi Vishwanath temple and Gyanvapi mosque stand check by jowl. Trouble was averted in Varanasi Friday when the district administration and a section of Muslim leadership persuaded pearly 2,500 persons heading for Gyanvapi mosque for jumanamaz to go back the previous Friday on Dec 25. A turnout of nearly 5000 namaz is at took the administration by surprise.
The temple devotees reacted by turning up in unprecedented strength on Dec.28, the crowd was so loud that the police had to resort to lathi charge and sent over a hundred to jail on charge of inflammatory slogan. The state government expects a replay and has asked the administration to alert the Army once again.
“Now we have to be wary on every Monday and Friday.” says a police top brass. Installation of closed circuit TVs. iron railings and metal detectors and posting of armed CRPF on rooftops of surrounding buildings, has given the area a battle field atmosphere.
The BJPVHP combine’s indications that Varanasi shrine he next on their agendas after AIBMC convenor Zataryab Jilani exhorting Muslims for self-defense, has added fuel to fire.
If the crowd of over one lakh that thronged Kashi Viswanath temple when there was no special occasion indicates that the majority community might tum up in greater strength in the future. Huge gathering by members of one community will prompt members of the other community to retaliate, says Pt Somnath Vyas who is fighting the temple dispute on behalf of the Hindu.
The festivals of Mauni Amavasya and Mahashivratn which fall on coming Fridays are giving authorities’ sleepless night.” we can only pray and hope that things will not go out of hand,” say Varanasi police officials. Controlling a crowd wone berserk in Varanasi’s Aurangzeb razed the Viswanath temple to build the mosque, my ancestor Shukadey Vyas jumped into a well with the Shiva Linga to prevent desecration of the deity,” Pt Somnath Vyas proudly claims. The underground basement on which the mosque stands is still in his possession. Gyanvapi, the name popularly given to the mosque, means the well of knowledge.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 8, 1993
