Former ASI officer says that Qutub Minar was a “sun tower” built by Chandragupta Vikramaditya around 5th century.
(Photo: Rajwant Rawat)
Conflict
On 10 May, Hindutva groups such as Mahakal Manav Seva descended on Qutub Minar, demanding that the iconic monument be renamed Vishnu Stambh. Former ASI regional director Dharamvir Sharma reiterated the claim that Qutub Minar was a “sun tower” built in the 5th century by Chandragupta Vikramaditya.
Earlier, on 7 April, National Monuments Authority chairman and BJP leader Tarun Vijay had claimed that Ganesh idols kept “outrageously” in the Qutub Minar complex should either be moved to the National Museum or installed “respectfully”. Go.
“The gods lived without worship for the last 800 years. Let it be like this,” said the district judge hearing the petition.
Meanwhile, a district court in Delhi is hearing a petition seeking restoration of Hindu and Jain deities and the right to worship within the Qutub Minar complex. The petitioner has claimed that 27 temples in the complex were partially demolished by Qutbuddin Aibak and the material was reused to build the adjoining Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque.
who is behind it
Lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain, son of Lucknow-based lawyer Hari Shankar Jain, on whose petition the court had ordered in 1993 that Hindus be allowed to worship at the Babri Masjid site, sought restoration and right to Hindu and Jain deities. Petition filed. Worship in Qutub Minar Complex
where is it going
Although there is no official confirmation, the Culture Ministry has reportedly asked the ASI to erect the statues in the Qutub complex. Maulana Sher Mohammad, Imam of Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, has claimed in the media that ASI officials had asked him to stop offering prayers from May 13.
During the hearing seeking the right to worship at Qutub Minar, the ASI opposed the suit, saying that Qutub Minar was not a place of worship, and the present status of the monument could not be changed. UNESCO declared Qutub Minar a World Heritage Site in 1993.
cover story , temple return movement
On 24 May, during the final hearing of the case, Additional District Judge Nikhil Chopra asked under what legal remedy the petitioners could claim the right of restitution “for something that happened 800 years ago”. The Additional District Judge, agreeing “the existence of the idols is not in dispute”, said mildly: “The deity lived without worship for the past 800 years. Let it be so.”