With the Supreme Court allowing both Basant Panchami worship and Friday namaz to be held at the disputed Bhojshala Temple–Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district, All India Muslim Jamaat National President Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi said that the decision would not resolve the issue and could instead escalate the dispute further.
Speaking to IANS, Maulana Razvi noted that the dispute over the Kamal Maula Mosque in Dhar has been ongoing for many years and is currently under judicial consideration.
"The Supreme Court has now ordered that puja can be performed until sunrise, after which namaz will be offered. However, the Court has not yet delivered a final verdict on ownership rights. The present order is only with regard to conducting religious activities such as puja and namaz," he said.
The cleric noted that the ownership case remains pending and a final decision is expected in due course.
"In my view, with this decision, the dispute will not be solved but may escalate further. However, I do not want such a situation to arise in the future. When different religious communities come into conflict, it creates tension, and there is a risk of disputes escalating," Razvi told IANS.
He appealed for calm and restraint, adding that all sides should ensure that peace and harmony are maintained and that no untoward incident takes place in the future.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, hearing an urgent plea filed by the Hindu Front for Justice (HFJ), which sought exclusive rights for Hindus to perform Saraswati Puja throughout the day on Basant Panchami on Friday, had laid down specific arrangements to enable both communities to perform their respective religious observances. The Bench, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, ordered that namaz may be offered between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at a separately demarcated space within the premises.
On the controversy involving Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati related to bathing in Prayagraj, Maulana Razvi said that the matter should now be laid to rest.
"The dispute that arose over the issue should be resolved, and Shankaracharya ji should also let go of his displeasure," he added.
In line with the Supreme Court's interim directive, members of the Muslim community offered Friday (Jumma) namaz at the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, without any untoward incident.
The prayers, which lasted approximately 20 minutes, took place between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. as stipulated by the apex court on Thursday. Under stringent security arrangements, the administration facilitated the safe movement of Muslim representatives to the site.
They were transported in an armoured vehicle to the complex premises, where designated separate areas had been earmarked for the namaz in line with the court's order for distinct spaces and entry/exit points for both communities.
Following the completion of prayers, all participants were securely escorted back from the premises, police sources said.
The Supreme Court's bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, had permitted Hindu Saraswati Puja and rituals on Basant Panchami while restricting Muslim namaz to the specified two-hour window.
The ruling emphasised mutual respect, tolerance, and full cooperation with local authorities to maintain peace at the 11th-century ASI-protected monument, long revered by Hindus as a Saraswati temple and by Muslims as Kamal Maula Mosque.
The day saw heavy deployment of over 8,000 police and paramilitary personnel across Dhar, including senior officers, female constables, Rapid Action Force platoons, and aerial surveillance via more than 20 AI drones.
Comprehensive 3D mapping of the area ensured round-the-clock monitoring. This balanced arrangement followed intense legal proceedings, with the court recording the Madhya Pradesh government's assurance of peaceful conduct.
Hindu devotees had begun elaborate Saraswati Puja early in the morning amid saffron decorations and floral offerings, while the Muslim side complied with the time-sharing formula. The incident-free observance of both religious activities has been hailed as a positive step toward coexistence at the sensitive site. Authorities continue to maintain vigilance, with the larger title dispute pending before the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
(With inputs from IANS)
