The push to reclaim historical mosques and monuments as Hindu religious sites has gained momentum in recent years, with Hindu nationalist groups claiming ownership over places like Ayodhya’s Babri Masjid, Varanasi’s Gyanvapi Mosque, and Mathura’s Shahi Eidgah Mosque, and it doesn’t end there. The pattern has been seen as part of a larger political strategy—leveraging historical disputes to reinforce a particular brand of identity politics, appealing to specific voter bases.
From Ayodhya To Mathura: The Rising Push To Reclaim Religious Sites
Over the years, mosque-temple disputes have been strategically politicised, serving as rallying points for parties, and with the Ayodhya now in their kitty, the focus has now shifted to other places of worship
Over the years, these disputes have been systematically politicised, serving as rallying points for political parties. With Ayodhya in their kitty, following the court directive and the grand consecration of the Ram Temple last year, the focus has now shifted to other sites like Gyanvapi and Mathura’s Shahi Eidgah mosque.
The Shahi Eidgah came into the spotlight in 2020 when a petition was filed seeking the removal of the mosque, claiming it was built on the site of a temple marking the birthplace of Lord Krishna. While the Allahabad High Court ordered the formation of a commission to conduct a survey of the site in December 2023, the Supreme Court has since placed a stay on the order, halting the survey until further notice.
In October 2022, Outlook released an issue titled ‘Ayodhya to Hubbali via Kashi and Mathura’, following the Ayodhya verdict. The issue looked at how, with Ayodhya settled, attention turned to other disputed places of worship. The issue highlighted how the slogan of the 1990s—“Ayodhya to bas jhanki hai, Kashi-Mathura baaki hai” (Ayodhya was just a glimpse, Kashi and Mathura will follow)—once dismissed as mere rhetoric could very well come true.
Outlook Magazine cover
The issue also touched upon the Places of Worship Act, 1991 and examined how the act which aims to maintain the religious status quo as of August 15, 1947, was being challenged by Hindu groups seeking to reclaim waqf lands. The act was largely being sidelined in legal debates, and its effectiveness being questioned.
In June 2022, Outlook ran a cover story as part of its ‘Law and Faith’ issue when the Gyanvapi Mosque became the centre of a fresh dispute. The issue explored how right-wing groups were intensifying demands around the mosque, and how it was now up to the judiciary and legislature to find a resolution.
The issue, while mainly focusing on Gyanvapi mosque, also mentioned how the Krishna Janmabhoomi movement in Mathura was fast gaining momentum.
Published At: