The issues of Kashi and Mathura are still pending !

Editorial

The Bhoomipujan of Shriram Mandir was performed in a well-planned manner and bhav-enriched environment without much fanfare due to the coronavirus pandemic. The joy of Hindus in the country and abroad touched new peaks. Their dream is about to come true. In the next three-and-a-half years, a magnificient Shriram Mandir will be erected. Ayodhya will also be transformed keeping in mind that crores of people will come to Ayodhya to visit Shriram Mandir. A committee has also been appointed for this purpose.

While this was going on, the slogan given by Vishva Hindu Parishad in 1992 – ‘Ayodhya to jhanki hai, Kashi-Mathura baki hai’ (Ayodhya is just a trailer, Kashi and Mathura are still pending) has now come up again. Bajrang Dal co-founder and former BJP MP Vinay Katiyar has already announced this. Mr. Katiyar has been the main leader of the Shriram Mandir movement. Hindus believe that he will now try to liberate Mathura and Kashi.

Eidgah is presently situated on half of the birthplace of Shrikrushna at Mathura. It is said that the first temple was built at this place between 80-57 BC. This temple was demolished by Mahmud Ghaznavi in 1017-18. Then in 1150, it was rebuilt by Maharaj Vijaypal Deo. In 1660, Aurangzeb vandalised this temple and built an Eidgah (Place of prayer) in a part of the temple premises. At of now, Eidgah and Shrikrushna Janmabhoomi Mandir exist in this place. The Vishweshwara Mandir at Kashi was demolished with the orders of Aurangzeb, and Gyanvyapi Masjid was built there. The present Vishwanath Mandir is in front of it. The Shriram Mandir in Ayodhya was demolished by Babar 492 years ago. No temple was built there.

Now, after the tireless struggle of Hindus, Ram Janmabhoomi was liberated from the clutches of Islamic invaders and now Bhoomipujan also took place there to build a magnificent Ram Mandir. Therefore, even if the issue of Ayodhya is solved, the issues of Kashi and Mathura temples remain. The Islamic attack on these three temples is a great disgrace to the pride of Hindus. Hindus expect them to be liberated by the BJP Government. Millions of people sacrificed their lives for Ram Mandir; however, the verdict came through the Court. In a Democracy, everything is expected to happen legally. This is why the BJP Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi made such an effort though it took a little time to become successful. The issues of Kashi and Mathura have already been taken to the Court. How long will the matter take to get resolved cannot be predicted. However, legal experts opine that if the BJP Government tries through democratic means, it will happen easily. Therefore, Hindus are now beginning to feel that the Government will make this effort. Kashi and Mathura issues should not be delayed as much as the Ayodhya issue.

Government should take initiative

Islamic attacks did not take place only on the major Hindu pilgrimage sites of Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura, but lakhs of religious places in the country were demolished and mosques were built there. Churches were built in Goa. After independence, Hindus started demanding that their 3 major pilgrimage centres be returned. Not only this, but it was also demanded that India be declared a ‘Hindu Rashtra (Nation0’. The attacks on Hindu Dharma, which have been going on for the last 1,000 years, did not stop. They continued in the form of Nehru. Therefore, these demands of Hindus could not be accepted.

In 1991, the then Congress Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao passed the ‘Places of Worship 1991 Act’, which maintains the places of worship in India as they were after Independence. The only exception was Ram Mandir, because the case was sub-judice at that time. This closed the way for Hindus to reclaim their former temples from Islamic aggression. It was only after this Act that Hindus filed a petition in the District Court at Varanasi alleging that the Gyanvapi Masjid on the site of Kashi Vishwanath Mandir was unauthorised. It was opposed, citing the ‘Places of Worship Act’. Now, the priests’ association has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking repeal of the law. If this law is repealed, a lawsuit will be filed against the Gyanvapi Masjid in Kashi and there will be arguments over it. The site may also be excavated, and then the Court will decide on it. Looking at the present speed of justice, how long will this take is anybody’s guess.

Before that, the law needs to be repealed. For this, just as Narasimha Rao passed the ‘Places of Worship Act’ in the Parliament, it can also be repealed by the Parliament now. Therefore, Hindus demand that the Act be abolished. This is not difficult for the BJP Government. Not only this, Hindus think that a law should be enacted to liberate these two temples and given their original form.

After the Bhoomipujan of Ram Mandir, bhav and self-confidence of Hindus have enhanced. It is a moment of pride for Hindus that for the first time in 73 years of Independence, such a religious programme of Hindus took place in a bhav-enriched environment at the Government level. One temple has made the minds of Hindus so happy. If the Kashi and Mathura temples are liberated, the joy of Hindus will know no bounds ! The Government should understand this and make efforts in the right direction. Even Prabhu Shriram will like it !