The Statesman reported that the Ajgaib Shaheed Mosque, located near Rajghat and falling within the alignment of the railway expansion project, was brought down shortly after midnight amid extensive security arrangements. Officials claimed that the structure stood on railway land earmarked for the station’s modernisation and expansion.

A report in the Deccan Herald said that a Hanuman Temple, which was also built on the railway land, was removed.

This sudden and arbitrary demolition is linked to a major infrastructure project under which Kashi railway station is being transformed into an integrated transport hub with airport-like facilities. Estimated to cost between Rs 330 crore and Rs 400 crore, the project aims to connect rail, road, metro and water transport networks at a single location to improve passenger movement in the city.

According to officials, senior police and administrative officers reached the site late Tuesday night and supervised the operation, which was completed within a short span. Bulldozers and earth-moving equipment were deployed to bring down the structure and clear the debris.

Massive security cover for overnight operation

The administration had put in place elaborate security measures to prevent any law-and-order issues during the exercise.

Joint Commissioner of Police Shiv Hari Meena led the security arrangements, with several IPS officers, police personnel and paramilitary forces stationed in and around the area. Access to the site was tightly restricted during the operation.

Officials said five JCB machines and two Poclain excavators were used in the demolition process.

Senior officers monitored operation

Before the demolition began, senior officials carried out a review of the area and security deployment. Among those present were DCP Kashi Gaurav Banswal, ADCP Vaibhav Bangar, ACP Vijay Pratap and officers from multiple police stations. The heavy deployment continued until debris from the site was removed.

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Demolition of Adivasi homes at Sanjay Gandhi National Park on Republic Day

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A panchayat meeting was conducted over the dispute before the demolition. The people demanded for relocating the mosque to another suitable empty land. Similarly, a group of people also demanded that the Sheetagol Mata Temple be given another land to be rebuilt. The panchayat then finally decided the temple would be rebuilt only a short distance behind its current location. However, according to Amar Ujala, the issue of the mosque is still unsorted.

According to locals, the demolitions took place on 28th February. Sabrang India spoke to people on ground who stated that the mosque and temple were demolished under heavy barricading due to which there was a heavy and long traffic jam. The now-demolished mosque, the locals say, was only built shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic. The people on ground are saying that they are going to be patient with this setback. The ulema of the mosque have also stated that they will be patient, and god willing, another mosque should be made. In words from the ground sourced by Sabrang India, citizens claim that the temple was dedicated to the deity Ram.

In a video by online news portal NS10, Zahoor Khan shows visuals from the ground before the demolition. The video shows the view from inside the mosque as it has being removed of all belongings in it. Khan says that the road-widening project will intrude and take more than 6-7 metres inside the mosque. A clip from the discussions with the administration can be seen, where the authorities are saying that the mosque administration knew of the demolition for months, to which the people responded that there was no written notice.

Amnesty International’s report, released recently, was conducted across all five states and revealed that many of such demolitions were conducted without following the due process. State authorities, without prior notice or any resettlement options, conducted these demolitions at times conducted without warning and often, under the cover of night which left the now displaced people in shock, with no time to evacuate their homes and businesses or protect their remaining things from their homes. Amnesty reports that it interviewed about 75 survivors out of which it noted that only six received any kind of prior notice from authorities about the demolitions. Even in those instances where they were offered any notice, it barely left them any time to challenge the demolition orders in court. The report also noted that existing provisions and laws do not meet human rights standards.

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January 2024: Raking up the myth of temple demolition

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Huge police deployment by the Uttar Pradesh authorities was visible in many areas of Varanasi (Banaras), Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency on Friday, February 2. Sabrang India spoke to several stake holders on the ground who gave first hand reports of the situation which was tense but peaceful.

A senior educationist from the United Public School, speaking to Sabrang India this afternoon stated that while there was huge police deployment, there was no untoward incident. Police presence was visible in several areas including Saraiya. The presence of police generated anxiety and most of the community has not turned out to work or let children go to school, she said. He also said that the community had no option but to accept the decision of the court.

A young weaver and businessman, Aman from Lallapura, alluded to the Appeal for Peace made by Mufti Abdul Batin Nomani who had also advised Banarasi Muslims to offer Friday prayers from their residences or the mosque closes to home and avoid going to Gyan Vapi mosque. Aman told Sabrang India that shops, looms, looms are all closed, large police force is deployed and the area remained peaceful.

Late night puja facilitated by the district administration on February 1 resulted in a call for a bandh in minority areas of Varanasi (Banaras) on Friday even as the Shahar Mufti Abdul Batin Nomani called for peace and calm. With the undue haste with which the district magistrate of Varanasi (Kashi) has allowed the prayers (puja) inside the historic Gyan Vapi masjid (mosque, despite a week’s time “suggested” by the courts, the Mosque Committee (Anjuman Arrangement Committee) called for a bandh that today, until 2 p.m. was completely successful in minority areas and peaceful. Speaking to Sabrang India from the various spots in the city, local Muslims spoke of the anguish and anxiety they are living through. “Prayers” were allowed in the basement of the historic mosque on the banks of the Ganga Thursday evening.

In most areas of the city dominated by a visible Muslim population especially Madanpura, Dalmandi, Nayi Sadak, Lallapura, Saraiya, shops and businesses remain shit, there was an eerie silence as the community grieved and people stopped working and watched news on their mobiles.

Besides, Sabrang India’s reports from the ground show that a fairly large number of Muslims did reach the Gyanvapi Masjid to offer Friday Namaz (Prayers), but in view of the crowd, a small number of people were actually allowed inside the Gyanvapi Masjid for prayers. The remaining people were asked to offer namaz at their homes or in other mosques.

Sabrang India correspondent speaking to one Salim, a small shopkeeper in Saraymir Azamgarh, also evinced the opinion that not only was there peace prevalent in the city but that there is no communal tension and all will accept the finaly court decision. Noman a retired officer from Sant Ravidas Nagar, however stated that the situation all around the country is worrisome and the minorities feel helpless. “These people, “he said, referring to the supremacists who are creating conflicts against the minorities, “will commit a genocide after winning the 2024 elections. So many young men are telling us to leave the city, but when our elders, parents are buried here, when this is our land, how can we leave?”

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Puja in Gyanvapi: Mosque Committee announces bandh, Shahr Mufti Batin Nomani appeals for peace

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UP: After Gyanvapi, Mathura Court Orders Shahi Idgah Survey; ‘Violation’ of Places of Worship Act, Say Activists

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Varanasi district administration has acquired 30 schools, and studies will be postponed in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, till December 15, as the space will be used to house security forces coming to town ahead of the December 13 inauguration of Shrikashi Vishwanath Temple Dham. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is the Member of Parliament from Varanasi, will inaugurate what has been called his “dream project”.

The ₹800 crore corridor project has been designed by Bhimal Patel, the architect behind the proposed Central Vista redevelopment project. As reported by Livemint, the “Prime Minister’s dream project this Corridor will shorten the period and will set a direct link between the temple and the Ganga river.”

The Prime Minister and Chief Minister and other personalities will be in Varanasi, and the state police has deployed forces drawn from other districts too. According to Jagran, “The district administration is making arrangements to accommodate the additional police force, PAAC, coming from outside” in the 30 schools now acquired by the commissionerate. According to news reports, “On the instructions of Commissionerate Additional Commissioner of Police, District School Inspector Dr. Vinod Kumar Rai has directed the principals and managers of these schools to provide support to the security forces for their stay from December 12 to December 15.” So, the regular school activities will not be held from December 12 to 15. The police have reportedly already inspected many schools and some of the additional may start staying there from December 11.

The Indian Express reported that phase 1 of the redeveloped project, covering the temple precincts will be opened to the public following the inauguration and the second phase that involves the redevelopment of the banks of the Ganga will be ready by January 2022.

Meanwhile, according to an IE report, the Gujarat BJP has also made elaborate plans to celebrate the occasion in the state. The state BJP president C R Paatil and Convener of ‘Divya Kashi, Bhavya Kashi’ initiative Gordhan Zadaphia shared elaborate plans of the celebration. Patel, told the media that “the inauguration of the temple, under the ‘Divya Kashi, Bhavya Kashi’ programme, will be live telecast on LED screens at 579 taluka centres and 41 district-level centres. Similarly, live telecast of the same programme on Doordarshan will also be streamed on television sets at villages having Shiv temple in the state. Also, a programme to perform Jalabhishek will also be held at such temples by party workers.” 

Paatil claimed the project and renovations were “necessary since it sustained a lot of damage in the times of Mughals” and added that due to the “haphazard planning of Kashi, people were not able to see the Ganga river even after it is situated on the banks of the river.” Zadaphia claimed that the BJP was not doing this ahead of elections in UP and other states, “When the foundation stone for Ramjanmabhoomi was laid following a verdict of the Supreme Court, there was no election. We do not do election oriented politics; we do politics of sanskar.”

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In a horrifying incident, a 20-year-old sanitation worker’s body was recovered from a sewer line on November 30, 2021 in Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh, 18 hours after he was reported missing after descending into the manhole. Colleagues told Amar Ujala that the administration has shown persisting negligence towards labour safety and security.

West Bengal resident Nawab Arif was called to clean a 10 feet deep manhole at Lahurabir crossroads on November 29 afternoon, along with three other contract workers. The youth was originally called on November 26 to put in iron plates and stop the outflow of sewage during the Shahi Nala diversion work. He was called on Monday when the sewer started to overflow again. 

As per the statements of his fellow contract workers, on November 29, Arif was lowered into the sewer line with a rope. After he remained unresponsive for 30 minutes, they grew worried. When they pulled the rope, they realised Arif was caught in the rapid currents and reported the same to contractors. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) member told the Hindustan the worker’s leg was stuck and the high pressure in the sewer worsened the situation. Arif’s body was finally recovered at 6 AM on Tuesday.

Following a post-mortem, Arif’s family left for their hometown Malda for his final rites. The Jal Nigam department announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 10 lakh for the victim’s family. Meanwhile, Arif’s colleagues declared a strike alleging gross administrative negligence. 

In response to worker’s ire, Jal Nigam Ganga Pollution Control Unit General Manager Phanindra Rai announced an investigative team will look into the incident. Members will provide a report on whether the concerned organisation had the required safety and security resources for the worker. Another question to be considered is why Arif was lowered into the manhole at all, if the sewer was overflowing.

However, Arif’s colleagues and families accused the Jal Nigam of rushing the project under higher influence and overlooking workers’ security. Dismissing the investigation as a ruse, Jal Nigam Thekedaar Sangharsh Samiti members said that at least six labourers died in the last five years due to the negligence of the department.

In 2017, a man and his nephew died in Pilikothi. Similarly, Bihar resident Chandan and Shivpur’s local Rajesh died near the Pandeypur Kali temple on March 1, 2019. NDTV reported the incident happened days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi washed the feet of sanitation workers during his visit to Kumbh, Prayagraj.

In light of all this, it is shocking that the central government in July stated that no deaths pertaining to manual scavenging were reported in the last five years. In doing so, officials had contradicted previous claims from February 2, 2021 that the reported number of deaths stood at 340 across 19 States, with Uttar Pradesh topping the list at 52 deaths.

On Tuesday, the Union gathered at the office near Varuna bridge where they demanded that the district administration address the life-endangering threats faced by sewer cleaners.

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The Samiksha Sanskrit Manch, a Varanasi-based citizens’ group has demanded the release of those arrested under draconian laws.The demand was made during a tribute meeting and candle march organised on July 12, 2021 in memory of Adivasi rights activist and Jesuit priest Fr. Stan Swamy.

Many people attended the tribute meeting held at Shastri Ghat Varunapul and decried the manner in which an aged man with Parkinson’s disease was rejected bail while other hate-spewing people walk free in the country. During the meeting, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Shashi Bhushan also paid his respects to the activist by singing the revolutionary song ‘Dastoor’ in front of the group of supporters.

Later, the gathering marched with candles to the Ambedkar Murti Court to demand justice against the custodial death of Fr. Stan. Those present vehemently demanded the elimination of draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and investigating agencies the National Investigation Agency (NIA). They called for the release of political prisoners arrested and penalised under these laws.

Attendees also demanded an inquiry into the death of Fr Stan, who died away from his family on July 5 at Holy Family hospital in Mumbai city. The human rights activist was arrested on October 8, 2020 for alleged involvement in the Bhima-Koregaon case. He was accused of conspiring with Maoists to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After his death, others accused in the case like Sudha Bharadwaj, Surendra Gadling, Anand Teltumbde and others condemned the incident, and observed a hunger strike to demand a judicial inquiry against jail authorities. Like Fr. Stan many of these undertrial prisoners suffer from serious medical conditions that put them at risk, especially amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“Father Stan’s worked in Jharkhand for more than three decades on various issues of tribal communities on land, forest and labor rights. He also raised questions on the non-implementation of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution wherein a Tribal Advisory Council is to be set up with only tribal community members for their safety, welfare and development,” said Father Prakash Lewis.

Father Stan’s legacy

Fr. Stan had advocated against the arrest of thousands of young tribals and indigenous people, labelled as ‘Naxals’. He had also opposed the idea of land banks and said that the land belonging to tribal communities should be freed and returned to them. During a similar memorial by the Jesuits of India, family members of Fr. Stan spoke of how the activist considered the Adivasi community his real family and brought up discussions about their struggle in everyday conversations.

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Konia civil society members met with Varanasi Deputy Commissioner of Police on May 27, 2021 to demand a fair and thorough investigation into a brutal physical assault incident in Barwa area of the district.

A delegation consisting of local leaders like Manish Sharma, Anup Shramik, Maulana Badruddin Ansar, Zubair Khan, Arshalan Ali, etc. condemned the police for allegedly supporting a group of goons who attacked people from a nearby Muslim locality. Three people were hospitalised following the incident.

“This group has been carrying out illegal activities such as liquor trade in this area for the last seven years or so. These 12-15 youths are under the patronage of police and have brutally attacked nearby residents. More deplorable is that the miscreants are pressuring the victims to withdraw complaints and the police are encouraging the victims to settle for a compromise,” Sharma told SabrangIndia.

Moreover, he said that victims were not questioned or provided a medical examination by the police.  For this reason, the delegation approached the police officer to demand an impartial investigation into the attack. Sharma alleged that instead of applying IPC Section 307 against the assaulters, the local police are protecting them.

“Victims are threatening to kill again if they do not compromise. We will not allow Varanasi to become a place of communal tension in any way. If the district administration does not immediately curb such acts, the civil society members will move towards a larger movement,” said Sharma.

Community members alleged that similar trends have been observed across Varanasi. According to complainants, this is the sixth residential area, where instead of explaining every small quarrel the police attempted to give the incident a colour of communal tension.

Earlier, residents of the Bhojubeer region complained of local police terming a scuffle between children as a communal incident that later aggravated to stone-pelting between two communities.

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EXCLUSIVE: Are Varanasi police trying to create communal tension?

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A civil suit has been filed in Varanasi, before a District seeking “restoration of performance of rituals at the principal seat of an Ancient Temple at the Gyanvapi mosque area”. The suit has been filed by devotees and worshippers of Lord Shiva, practicing the vedic sanatan Hindu dharma, according to LiveLaw.

The suit states that every citizen has a fundamental right to perform pooja, worship and rituals according to the tenets of his religion within the ambit of Article 25 and any obstacle created before January 26, 1950 has become null and void by virtue of Article 13(1). Therefore, the plea states, “An idol worshipper cannot complete his pooja and gain spiritual advantages without having objects of worship. Any hindrance/ obstacle created in performance of pooja, is denial of right to religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution of India”.

The plaintiffs have alleged that the said ancient temple was desecrated and damaged in the year 1669 under the orders of Aurangzeb which the suit terms as “one of the most cruel rulers of India,” claimed by the Muslim community to be part of the Gyanvapi mosque, reported LiveLaw.

The plea reads, “It is historically proved that in 1585, Raja Todar Mal, the finance Minister of Akbar, who was Governor of Jaunpur, had re-established and reconstructed a magnificent Lord Shiva Temple at its original place consisting of a central sanctum sanctorum (Garbh Griha) surrounded by Eight mandaps and pavilions, which is known as old temple.”

The plea also claims that the Pooja and worship of Goddess Gauri is “compulsory to achieve the fruit of worship of lord Vishwanath.” Moreover, according to the plaintiffs it is contended that the devotees have been worshipping the daily pooja at the disputed place which was restricted in the 1990 during the Ayodhya movement by the Uttar Pradesh government “to appease Muslims”.

According to LiveLaw, the plea reads, “That Aurangzeb, one of the cruellest Islamic rulers, was the champion in destruction of Hindu temples. He had issued ‘Farmaans’ in the year 1669 to destroy many temples including Kashi and Mathura, which were prominently worshipped by Hindus. The administration complied with the order and demolished a portion of temple of the Adi Visheshwar at Varanasi and later on a construction was raised which they alleged Gyanvapi Mosque, but they could not change the religious charter of Hindu temple as the idol of Goddess Shringar Gauri, Lord Ganesh and other associate deities continued in the same building complex.”

Finally, the plea by the devotees also believe that, “The Parliament has no power or jurisdiction to negate Hindu Law protected by Article 25 of the Constitution of India and cannot interfere with rights of Hindus as enshrined in Vedas, Shartras, Upnishads, Smrities and other scripture having the force of law.”

LiveLaw reported that the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs is to pass a decree in the nature of declaration stating that the worshippers are entitled to have Darshan, Pooja and Worship of deities within the area. They have also prayed that the entire disputed area be given to the deity Asthan Lord Adi Visheshwar situated at Dashashwamedh in the heart of the city of Varanasi.

The plaintiff also sought a decree in the nature of perpetual injunction against defendants prohibiting them, and their workers, agents, officers, officials and every person acting under them from interfering with, or raising any objection or obstruction in the construction of new temple building after demolishing and removing the existing buildings and structures etc, situated thereat, in so far as it may be necessary are expedient to do so for the said purpose.

Union of India through Ministry of Home Affairs, State of Uttar Pradesh, D.M. Varanasi, Senior Superintendent of Police, Varanasi, Sunni Central Waqf Board, Committee of Management Anjuman Intazamia Masajid and Board of Trustees- Kashis Vishwanath Temple have been made the defendants in the matter.

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a humiliating defeat in Varanasi in the recently concluded Member of Legislative Council (MLC) elections. On December 1, elections were held for 11 seats; six teachers’ and five graduates’ constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. Though BJP won five of those seats, the fact that it lost in Varanasi has got to sting.

This is particularly humiliating also because Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Varanasi on the occasion of Dev Deepawali on November 30. Modi had inaugurated a six-lane widening project of the Varanasi – Prayagraj stretch of the NH-19. He had also offered prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple. But it looks like Modi’s magic may be waning.

BJP’s sitting MLC Kedarnath Singh was ousted by debutant Ashutosh Sinha of the Samajwadi Party (SP) in the graduate seat with a reported margin of 3,850 votes. SP’s Lal Bihari Yadav bagged the teachers’ seat in Varanasi.

The defeat In Varanasi is also humiliating given how it comes close at the heels of the defeat in Nagpur. MLC elections were also held in Maharashtra recently and BJP lost in Nagpur that has been a stronghold of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for several decades. To add insult to injury, it was Congress that won the Nagpur seat. 

Meanwhile, it is noteworthy that the SP was anyway dominating the BJP in the upper house of the UP state legislature, where it had 52 seats as opposed to the BJP’s 19, even before the current election. This time the SP won three out of the total 11 seats; two in Varanasi and one in Allahabad-Jhansi. BJP won three of the teachers’ seats in Lucknow, Meerut and Bareilly-Moradabad, and two graduates’ seats in Agra and Meerut. Interestingly, it dethroned the SP in Agra.

This sets the ground for things to come. Panchayat elections are due in UP next year, and Assembly elections are scheduled to take place in 2022.

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An individual named Shahshaad Khan has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against four individuals residing in Madanpura area of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. This FIR has been filed under sections 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 270 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 271 (Disobedience to quarantine rule) of the Indian Penal Code.

The FIR states that the four individuals, namely, Abu Bakr, Tamijuddin, Md. Shariq and Abu Huzefa attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi on March 19 and after returning from the event on March 22, did not inform the police or any other officials. Further, they did not even get a medical check up done hence, this has increased the threat of infection spreading in the area. Due to this, people living in this area are scared. The FIR states that the four individuals have intentionally violated the rules laid down with respect to ban on public gatherings and hence ought to be charged under the aforementioned sections.

The same sections of the IPC were also invoked against the Tablighi Jamaat management for convening the congregation despite Delhi government orders.

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