Protests erupt over gate installation at Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi
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Muslims protested against the installation of a temporary gate at the Gyanvapi Mosque by the district administration, which was done without consulting the mosque authorities in Varanasi. About 500 worshippers boycotted the Friday prayer and expressed their discontent by staging a sit-in outside the mosque.
The gate was intended to provide a separate entry for mosque worshippers adjacent to Gate No. 4 of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham, but its construction triggered a significant backlash from the local Muslim community.
The protests escalated into a confrontation with the police, resulting in a scuffle and leading City Mufti Maulana Abdul Batin Nomani to organize a sit-in demonstration. Approximately 150 worshippers who had initially entered the mosque chose to boycott their prayers in solidarity with the protest.
The controversy surrounding the gate began the previous day when the administration announced the temporary installation, which many worshippers viewed as an unwelcome and potentially disruptive addition. Despite the administration's decision to retract the plan and promise to remove the gate frame by Thursday night, the protest continued as the frame remained in place.
On Friday afternoon, as worshippers arrived for Namaz and encountered the still-standing gate frame, they initiated a protest. The City Mufti warned that if the frame was not removed by August 9, the date of the next scheduled Namaz, protests would resume. Following this warning, the demonstrators dispersed.
The Mufti emphasized that any new construction within the Gyanvapi Mosque premises should be carried out with the mosque committee's approval. The mosque committee had not been informed about the gate installation. Administrative officials defended the gate's installation as a measure for increased security, but the protestors argued it would cause inconvenience and disrupt their religious practices.
The Mufti also criticized the administration for not providing a written assurance that no further actions would be taken without the mosque committee's consent. He expressed concerns that the gate installation was part of a broader attempt to restrict mosque access and diminish the presence of Muslim worshippers.
As the situation remains tense, the administration faces a deadline of August 9 to remove the gate frame. The mosque committee continues to demand that any future work in the Gyanvapi complex be undertaken with proper consultation and agreement from all relevant stakeholders.