In a bid to prevent an Ayodhya-type situation from emerging at the Bhojshala-Kamal Moula mosque in Dhar district, the Madhya Pradesh government on Friday decided to approach the Centre for a decision on opening it on specific days for prayers by Hindus and Muslims.
Chief Minister Digvijay Singh said in the state assembly that in view of the seriousness of the situation in Dhar district the state government will pass on the recommendations of the Dhar district administration to the Centre today itself.
The district administration, which was kept on tenterhooks in the wake of violence in the past two days, has recommended that the Bhojshala-Kamal Moula mosque be kept open every Friday from 1300 to 1500 hours IST to enable Muslims to offer namaz.
The administration has also recommended that Hindus be allowed to enter the Bhojshala every Tuesday between 0900 and 1100 hours IST, although there will be a ban on shouting slogans and carrying pictures and material for offering prayers.
Hindus could also be allowed to organise their traditional programmes at the Bhojshala on Basant Panchami day every year.
Singh said the Centre has to take a decision on the Bhojshala affairs since it is a protected monument vested with the Archaeological Survey of India.
A recommendation has also been made that adequate central security forces be posted to prevent any untoward incidents, besides keeping it open for tourists who will be paying entry fees.
In the past few days, Hindu outfits had been vociferously demanding reopening of the locks of Bhojshala-Kamal Moula mosque.
An all-party meeting called by the district administration on February 19 in this regard has favoured opening of disputed Bhojshala for the public, based on which the district administration has forwarded its recommendations to the state government, Singh said.
Hindu Jagran Manch activists tried to storm into the temple on Tuesday demanding opening of the locks of Bhojshala, when they were stopped by the police and around 150 of them were arrested.
Sangh Parivar outfits have been indulging in large-scale violence in Dhar for the past two days, forcing police to open fire, which has left one dead and scores of others injured, prompting authorities to clamp curfew in five towns.