VARANASI/NEW DELHI: Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday welcomed the
Varanasi court
's decision to allow a priest to worship deities in the southern cellar of
Gyanvapi mosque
while Anjuman Intejamia Masajid (AIM) joint secretary SM Yaseen said, "Ab humein insaaf ki ummid nahi rahi (Now, we have lost hope for justice)."
AIM advocate Akhlaque Ahmed said the district judge's order will be challenged in the high court.
VHP president Alok Kumar said: "Today, a court in Kashi has given a very important decision. We are glad that the court said the petitioner and Kashi Vishwanath can together appoint a pujari to ensure conduct of regular 'puja-archana' there. This has happened after 31 years." He said this after the Varanasi district court granted the grandson of Somnath Vyas the right to worship
Hindu deities
in the Gyanvapi mosque cellar. Vyas used to perform prayers there till 1993 when the cellar was closed by authorities.
He also congratulated the Hindu community over the court's decision, saying: "We hope that after this, the court's verdict on Gyanvapi case will also come soon. We are confident that the decision will come in favour of Hindus based on evidence and facts."
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia refused to comment on the court's decision, saying it was a sub-judice matter. "We should not be commenting on such matters."
AIM advocate Ahmed said their objection challenging maintainability of the petitioner's plea had been overlooked, although the court has fixed Feb 8 for the next hearing.
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