Exclusive photos of the basement, where the Gyanvapi masjid side is denying entry, show Hindu symbols of lotus and Swastika

*Paromita Das

Times Now obtained photographs of the Shringar Gauri temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex, which show Hindu symbols and idols claimed to be hidden in the masjid basement, ahead of the critical hearing on the Shringar Gauri temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex on Wednesday.

Vishnu Jain, the petitioner, told Times Now exclusively that the exclusive photographs are conclusive evidence of the petitioners’ argument.

He stated that the photographs would be used in court to support the case, that there was a temple beneath the mosque structure.

“The Muslim side has petitioned the court, requesting that the judge visit the site. The request will be investigated by the court. In 1985, both the Ram Janmabhoomi case and a civil judge visited the site. If the Muslims demand that the court visit the site, we will back them up “Jain stated. He went on to say that the petitioners had asked the court for permission to enter the site. There should be no ambiguity in the order when the survey begins, he added.

The images, taken in the 1990s in Kashi by senior journalist Ramprasad Singh, show a Shiv Ling in the complex.
There is also a Ram Katha Mandap, also known as Shringar Mandap, which has lotus, Swastika, and other representations of the Nagar style of architecture.

Background of the Gyanvapi case

The complex’s masjid authorities have objected to the videographic survey of the masjid. The hearing in the case remained unresolved on Tuesday, as the Muslim side argued that advocate Ajay Kumar Mishra, who has been appointed as the court commissioner for the survey of the Shringar Gauri temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex, should be removed because he is ‘biassed’ towards the Hindu side. Ravi Kumar Diwakar, Civil Judge (Senior Division), had previously ordered a survey of the complex after five female petitioners approached the court seeking permission to worship the deities located on the mosque’s western wall.