The Centre has allowed Hindus to worship at the controversial Bhojshala-Kamaal Maula mosque in Dhar on Tuesdays, while Muslims would continue to offer Friday prayers as suggested by the Madhya Pradesh government, Chief Minister Digvijay Singh said in Bhopal on Thursday.
Singh said he had received a letter to this effect from Union Culture and Tourism Minister Jagmohan on Wednesday allowing the Hindus to pay obeisance at the Wagdevi temple for the whole day on Tuesdays and carry rice and flowers as prayer offerings.
Singh said this was in modification of his government's recommendations suggesting that Hindus worship for two hours on Tuesdays and not carry any pooja material inside the Archaeological Survey of India-protected shrine.
The Muslims will continue to offer namaz at the adjacent mosque on Fridays. On other days the shrine would be open to public as a tourist spot for a token entry fee.
The chief minister said the letter from the Centre has been forwarded to the Dhar district administration for making arrangements accordingly.
The recommendations for holding prayers had come to the state government from the Dhar district administration after an all-party meeting held in Dhar on February 19.