Security was increased at Bhojshala and Kamal Maula's Mosque in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district following the discovery of an idol of Vagdevi (Maa Saraswati) inside the 11th-century monument, as reported by the police. Although the district administration removed the idol shortly after its discovery, approximately 200 police personnel were deployed at the site due to threats of agitation by a Hindu group demanding the statue's restoration.

This site, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), holds significance for both Hindus, who consider it Vagdevi's temple, and Muslims, who regard it as Kamal Maula's Mosque. According to ASI guidelines issued on April 7, 2003, Muslims are permitted to offer namaz at the premises on Fridays, while Hindus are allowed to perform prayers.

“Tension broke out in the area after an idol of Vagdevi was found inside the Bhojshala by security personnel on Sunday. The idol was subsequently removed by authorities. A probe is underway and we are trying to identify the people behind this act,” Dhar superintendent of police (SP) Manoj Kumar Singh said.

Unidentified individuals were charged with multiple offenses, including house trespassing, promoting enmity between different groups, and injuring or defiling a place of worship with the intent to insult the religion of any class, according to police. This action was taken in response to a complaint filed by the district administration, leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR).

“We have stepped up security at the premises in view of possible escalation of the matter and are holding discussions to resolve the issue between the two communities amicably,” Singh said.

ASI regional director central Bhuvan Vikram said, “We took immediate action and removed the idol. The action against security personnel will be taken after a probe into the matter is completed.”

Shehar qazi Waqar Saddique handed over a memorandum to the district administration, seeking action in the matter. “We demand tough action against the accused and also action against the security personnel at the site since this controversy does not only concern law and order but appears to have a hidden agenda,” he said.

However, Gopal Sharma, a member of the Bhojshala Sangarsh committee, which has been seeking rights over the monument, criticised the district administration for removing the idol. “We saw a photo and video of the idol inside the Bhojshala on Sunday morning but by the time we reached, the administration had removed it. They shouldn’t have seized the idol because it is a matter of faith. We have been fighting for a long time (seeking a claim on the Bhojshala),” he said.

“We will hit the streets if the idol is not placed back,” he added.

Public interest litigation was filed by the Hindu Front For Justice, an organization addressing legal matters related to the Hindu community, before the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in May 2022. This litigation challenged the Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) 2003 decision and sought permission for daily prayers at the site. Notices were issued to the ASI, Centre, and the state government by the court, but the state has not yet responded to the petition.

The discovery of the idol at Bhojshala sparked a political dispute, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also demanding its restoration.

“We demand that the administration place the idol back there for people to offer prayers. They have been given two days’ time. If they fail to do so, we will launch a protest,” BJP leader Ashok Jain said.

The Congress alleged that the BJP was deliberately stirring tension in the region ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. In the 2018 elections, the opposition party secured victories in six out of seven seats in Dhar, while the BJP won the seventh seat.

Image source: ToI