Hindu side allowed to worship in sealed basement of Gyanvapi Mosque

A Varanasi district court on Wednesday allowed the Hindu side to offer prayers in southern cellar of Gyanvapi mosque. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side said, "...Puja will start within seven days. Everyone will have the right to perform Puja..." The order was given by district court judge A K Vishvesh. According to the petition, priest Somnath Vyas used to perform prayers there till 1993 when the cellar was closed by the authorities.

Advocate Yadav said the district administration will make arrangements for performing puja and it will be facilitated by the Kashi Vishwanath Trust. Shailendra Kumar Pathak, maternal grandson of Somnath Vyas, had sought the right to worship deities there.

(With inputs from agencies)

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