Saurabh Sharma

LUCKNOW.India (Reuters) – Members representing hardline Hindu groups have filed petitions to a court in northern India asking for an order to bar Muslims from entering a mosque. This will be done until the court hears a plea that sought permission to examine any Hindu relics found on the site.

The new petitions were approved by Mathura’s local court. However, hearings have not yet begun in 2020 in the case aimed to secure permission for filming and surveys inside the Shahi Eidgah mosque, a 17-century Shahi Eidgah Mosque.

Mahendra Pratap (a lawyer in this case) stated that they suspect the removal of Hindu symbols from Shahi Eidgah Mosque.

Another local court allowed the team to enter and film in Varanasi’s most famous mosque, which is an old town that also happens to be the electoral constituency for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The country’s highest court overturned Tuesday’s Varanasi court ruling to restrict large Muslim prayer groups in Gyanvapsi mosque. However, it allowed local courts to continue their proceedings.

Modi’s party is associated with hardline Hindu groups that believe Islamic intruders have destroyed Hindu temples under their 200-year rule.

Ranjana Agnihotri is a lawyer who appeared on behalf of Hindu groups to question the legitimacy and authenticity of the Shahi Eidgah in Mathura.

Varanasi was investigated by surveyors who claimed to have found the large statue of Shiva in Gyanvapsi’s Gyanvapsi Mosque. However, Muslim groups claim that the fountainhead had been misrepresented as a religious tension-stoker.

Hindu groups across the country have become more vocal about their desire to search for other mosques after reports were made that idols had been found within the mosque.

Aurangabad’s police stated that they increased security at the burial site of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb because members of MNS threatened to remove the monument, which they consider anti-Hindu.

After its leaders threatened to chant Hindu prayers in mosques, the Maharashtra government was forced to lower the decibel level of Muslim prayer calls.

Muslim leaders have said that Hindu political and religious organizations will be fighting legal challenges against Hindu groups that disrupt the holy sanctity and beauty of their mosques and tombs.

Asaduddin Obaiddin Owaisi (federal lawmaker, leader of regional Islamic political parties) stated that “We Muslims will not allow Hindus to insult our faith or our mosques.”

Rupam Jain writes additional reporting; Kim Coghill edits.