Dhar: Hindus can perform puja and Muslims can offer namaz at the disputed Bhojshala monument in the district on Basant Panchmi on February 12, the Archaeological Survey of India said in an order.
Tension has been brewing up in the district since last one month in the run-up to the festival as members of both the communities could not arrive at a mutually agreeable solution over paying obeisance as per their respective faiths at the protected archaeological structure.
Hindus consider Bhojshala as the temple of Goddess Waghdevi (Saraswati), whereas Muslims treat it as Kamal Moula mosque.
According to the ASI order released today by the district public relation office: “In the ancient protected monument Bhojshala/Kamal Moula Mosque, both puja and namaz will take place on February 12, Basant Panchmi festival. The order is effective for that day only.”
In the past too, tension had prevailed in Dhar city whenever Basant Panchmi fell on a Friday, once forcing the administration to impose a curfew to conduct namaz at the designated time.
–PTI