Hindu Outfits Call Dhar Bandh Over Bhojshala Dispute

A half-day bandh was called in Dhar city, Madhya Pradesh, on Tuesday by Hindu organisations, who accused the administration of not enforcing the Supreme Court's order regarding the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Complex dispute.

The administration increased security across the district following the bandh call. According to Bhoj Utsav Samiti President Suresh Jalodia, the Supreme Court had directed the Muslim community to offer prayers at a designated site, survey number 596. However, the administration selected another plot, survey number 612, near the Bhojshala Complex, for prayers.

Jalodia claimed that this new site blocks the road to the Bhojshala temple. In protest, the Sakal Hindu Samaj called for a bandh till noon in Dhar city. Members of Hindu outfits took out a motorcycle rally, urging people to close their shops and businesses. At some locations, they were seen forcing people to close their shops.

Heavy security was deployed to maintain peace and law and order in Dhar, officials said. The situation is currently peaceful and under control, according to City Superintendent of Police Shashank Singh Gurjar. He said the administration is ensuring the bandh remains voluntary and that no business owner or person is pressured to close their establishment.

Dhar residents have been appealed to ignore any misleading information or rumours and to immediately inform the local police if they encounter any situation where they are forced to close their shops or are harassed. Supporting the shutdown, Pradeep Rathore, a city hotelier, said they were protesting the administration's designated prayer site.

The Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex has been a subject of dispute between the Hindu and Muslim communities. In May, the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the complex a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The matter subsequently reached the Supreme Court, which directed the state government to allow the Muslim community to offer prayers at the Dargah complex adjacent to the disputed Bhojshala complex on Fridays between 1 pm and 3 pm.

The district administration made necessary arrangements for prayers at Survey No. 612 site near the complex, and the Muslim community has been offering prayers there for the past few weeks. The Muslim side had claimed the site as their own, leading to the current dispute.

The bandh call by Hindu organisations is a result of the ongoing tensions between the two communities over the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex. The administration's decision to select a new site for prayers has been met with resistance from the Hindu community, who claim it blocks the road to the Bhojshala temple.

The situation in Dhar remains peaceful, but the dispute over the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex is likely to continue. The Supreme Court's order and the administration's decision to select a new site for prayers have not resolved the issue, and tensions between the two communities remain high.

In conclusion, the bandh call by Hindu organisations in Dhar is a result of the ongoing dispute over the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex. The administration's decision to select a new site for prayers has been met with resistance from the Hindu community, and the situation remains tense. The dispute is likely to continue, and it remains to be seen how the administration will resolve the issue.

The significance of this dispute lies in the fact that it highlights the ongoing tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities in India. The Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex is just one example of the many disputed sites across the country, and the dispute over this site is a reflection of the deeper communal tensions that exist in Indian society. The administration's handling of this dispute will be closely watched, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days.