"We are happy": VHP chief Alok Kumar after court allows Hindu side to offer prayers at Gyanvapi complex

New Delhi [India], January 31 : Working President of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and senior advocate Alok Kumar expressed his happiness regarding the Varanasi district court's decision allowing the Hindu side to offer prayers at the Gyanvapi complex.
In an official statement, Kumar said, "We are happy that today the court has said that the plaintiff in that suit, along with the Kashi Vishwanath Trust, shall appoint a 'Pujari' to ensure regular 'Puja Archna' and performance of other rituals in that basement temple. This restores the status quo ante. This gives us the right to offer worship to the Lord at that place."
He further expressed confidence that the final judgement in the main suits would also be in their favour, and the Hindus would get back the Gyanvapi place.
"We hope that this will be a precursor to the expeditious decision of the main suit. Based on available evidence and our understanding of the law, we do hope that the final judgement in the main suits will also be in our favour, and the Hindus shall get back the Gyanvapi place for the Temple of Adi Visweshwara for the good and welfare of humanity," Kumar said in the statement.
Further sharing details, the statement noted that in the basement of the Gyanapi structure on the southern side is a temple, and in this temple, the regular 'Puja Archna' of the deities was going on till the year 1993.
In 1993, the administration, in an arbitrary action, barricaded the area, prohibited the July Hindus from going to the temple, and stopped the Puja Archna.
A suit was filed to restore the previous situation. On the application of the plaintiff, the District Magistrate of Varanasi was appointed receiver of the property. But then, in this order, nothing was mentioned about the restoration of the Puja Archna, the statement added.
Notably, Varanasi district court on Wednesday allowed Hindu devotees to offer prayers inside the 'Vyas Ka Tahkhana' area inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex. The court has asked district administration to make the necessary arrangements in the next seven days.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side told ANI, " ...Puja will start within seven days. Everyone will have the right to perform Puja..."
"Hindu side is allowed to offer prayers at 'Vyas Ka Tahkhana'. The District Administration will have to make arrangements within 7 days," Jain said.
The mosque has four 'tahkhanas' (cellars) in the basement out of which one is still in possession of the Vyas family who used to live here.
Vyas had petitioned that as hereditary pujari he be allowed to enter the tahkhana and resume pooja.