Responding to a Right to Information (RTI) query, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has disclosed that Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb had demolished a temple at the disputed Krishna Janmabhoomi Complex in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura to build a mosque.
According to a Times of India report, the ASI disclosed the information based on historical records of a 1920 gazette. The ASI attached an excerpt from the November 1920 gazette and stated, “Portions of Katra mound which are not in the possession of nazul tenants on which formerly stood a temple of Keshavdev which was dismantled and the site utilised for the mosque of Aurangzeb…”
The RTI query was filed by Ajay Pratap Singh, a resident of Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh, and the reply came from the office of superintending archaeologist of ASI, Agra circle.
Singh had sought information about the “dismantling” of the Keshavdev temple, which claimed to be part of the Krishna Janmabhoomi complex. The RTI reply, while not specifically mentioning the words “Krishna Janmabhoomi”, the ASI confirmed the demolition of the former temple of Keshavdev at the disputed site by the Mughal emperor.
Advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh, chief of Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Nyas, said he will place the key evidence before Allahabad High Court and Supreme Court.
“On basis of historical evidence, we had in our petition mentioned that Aurangzeb issued a decree in 1670 CE to demolish the temple. Following that, Shahi Idgah Mosque was built there. Now ASI in reply to the RTI query has attested the information. We’ll put forward ASI reply in HC during the Feb 22 hearing,” he told TOI.
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