The second phase will involve the freeing of the Kashi Vishwanath temple from the stranglehold of the Gyanvapi mosque, reported by Frontline.

Some organizations like, Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti and the Sri Kashi Vishwanath Mukti Andolan, have vowed to liberate the Kashi Vishwanath temple from the “clutches” of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi.

“Liberating the Ram Janmabhoomi temple was the first phase of our movement, and it is now complete. The second phase will involve the freeing of the Kashi Vishwanath temple from the stranglehold of the Gyanvapi mosque. The third phase will focus on the liberation of the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple in Mathura. These are the only three temples the Hindu samaj wants. Now that the Ram temple project is over [that is, the Supreme Court verdict that the disputed site in Ayodhya should be given for the construction of a Ram temple], we will start work on the second phase,” said Baba Balak Das, the national spokesman of the Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti.

Baba Balak Das, who heads the Patalpuri Math in Varanasi, said that the Mughals damaged over 30 lakh temples in India, but “Hindus want only three temples back”. “We are not asking for Mecca or Madina. We only want those temples that are most sacred for crores of Hindus all over the world. Now that the Ram Janmabhoomi temple movement is complete, we will start work on the liberation of the Kashi Vishwanath temple,” he said. 

According to him, since the remnants of the old Vishwanath temple are still visible on the walls of the Gyanvapi mosque, there is no dispute here, unlike in the Ayodhya dispute, where a temple had been damaged to build the Babri mosque.

“A mass movement to create public awareness would be launched on the fourth day of chaitra navaratri (in March-April), which is considered auspicious. ” Baba Balak Das added.

It is on this day that Hindus perform the Shringaar Gauri puja at one of the spots along the wall of the Gyanvapi mosque.

“This year, we will do a huge puja for Shringaar Gauri, and pray to the deity to give us strength so that we can liberate Baba Vishwanath from the the mosque,” he said.

After the puja, the saints would go around the country, hold discussions, and tell people how the Mughals damaged the Vishwanath temple to build the mosque there. “We are free to preach and spread awareness about our religion. We are not going to use any force. Whatever we do will be according to court orders, the Constitution and only after due permission is got from the government,” he said.

For now, the movement would be peaceful but “if need be, we will give our sacrifice, like we did for the Ram mandir”, he said.

Baba Balak Das is hopeful about starting a movement sometime in April, but the Sri Kashi Vishwanath Mukti Andolan has already launched one. Before the Babri Masjid was demolished in December 1992, on a call from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal, Hindus in Ayodhya and Lucknow used to blow the conch, beat ghantas and ghariyaals and chant “Jai Sriram” every evening from their rooftop.

Hindus in Varanasi blow the conch, beat ghanta-ghariyaal and chant “Har Har Mahadev” from 8-8.30 p.m. on Shivratri day (February 21), and on every Monday from then on. They have exhorted Hindus to collectively participate in this and offer jalabhishek at any Siva temple every Monday.

Members of the Mukti Andolan will organise the programme at Assi Ghat in Varanasi on Sivratri and at some Siva temple every Monday. Ironically, the organisation is headed by Sudhir Singh, who is general secretary of the Pragtisheel Samajwadi Party.

Sudhir Singh has filed a petition in the Varanasi civil court demanding that the Kashi Vishwanath temple be freed and the Anjuman Intazamia Masjid, which, is in illegal possession of the mosque, should vacate the complex because there is evidence for everyone to see that the mosque was built after damaging a temple that was considered sacred by Hindus all over the world.

Image Source: Travel115