Mathura Dispute: Can ASI Gazette Be Game Changer!

There are many disputed religious sites in India but three sites are very sensitive due to various reasons. Ayodhya is one of the sites and it was settled a few years back. The Supreme Court's verdict cleared the path for the issue to get sorted out and we have a Ram Mandir in the temple city.

Ayodhya and Mathura are the other sites. A legal fight is underway to settle the issue. Recently, the Court gave permission to worship in the complex. The High Court said no to cancel the orders issued by the lower Court in the case.

Now the Mathura case saw a big development as the Archaeological Survey of India found a Gazatte which says the temple was razed to build the mosque. It is said that the Gazette goes back to the 1920s.

A person filed an RTI to know whether the existing masjid was built on top of a temple. In response, the ASI is said to have replied that indeed the temple was demolished and the masjid was built. A Gazette which traces back to 1920 was also mentioned reportedly.

The RTI response came at a time when the fight was underway to claim authority over the site. While the Hindu side says that the masjid was built by destroying the temple, the other side has been saying that there is no truth in the argument.

With the ASI citing the Gazette as the source behind saying the temple was demolished and the masjid was built in Mathura many wonder if this can be a game-changing development. If the ASI Gazette can be produced before the court during the arguments then it brings a big weightage. Let us wait and see what happens next.