Qutub Minar Row: Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy Responds To Claims Of ASI Excavation At Complex

Earlier, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) spokesman Vinod Bansal had claimed that Delhi's famous monument Qutub Minar was actually "Vishnu Stambh".

Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy's response comes as several claims have surfaced regarding the Qutub Minar complex.

New Delhi: Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy on Sunday dismissed media reports which claimed that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is going to conduct an excavation at the Qutub Minar complex in Mehrauli. The response comes as several claims have surfaced regarding the Qutub Minar complex while the matter regarding the Gyanvapi mosque and a "Shivling" said to be found in the masjid complex is being heard in Varanasi court.

"No such decision has been taken," said Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy in Hyderabad, Telangana when asked about reports that the Archaeological Survey of India was going to conduct excavation at the Qutub Minar complex, ANI reported.

Earlier, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) spokesman Vinod Bansal had claimed that Delhi's famous monument Qutub Minar was actually "Vishnu Stambh".

"Qutab Minar was actually 'Vishnu Stambh'. Qutub Minar was built with materials obtained after demolishing 27 Hindu-Jain temples. The superimposed structure was built just to tease the Hindu community," the VHP spokesman told ANI. 

Bansal also demanded that all the 27 temples which were demolished in the past, be rebuilt again and Hindus be allowed to offer prayers there.

Delhi Court Hears Appeal Seeking Restoration Of Temples In Qutub Minar Complex

An appeal regarding the restoration of 27 Hindu and Jain temples in the Qutub Minar complex is currently being heard in the Saket Court. Appeal suit alleges that the Quwwat-Ul-Islam Masjid situated within the Qutub Minar complex in Mehrauli was built in place of a "temple complex".

The suit, filed on behalf of Jain deity Tirthankar Lord Rishabh Dev and Hindu deity Lord Vishnu (through their next of friends), seeks restoration of the alleged temple complex, comprising as many as 27 temples. 

"The suit was filed to preserve and protect the religious and cultural heritage of India and to exercise the right to religion guaranteed by Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India by restoring 27 Hindu and Jain temples with respective deities which were dismantled, desecrated and damaged under the command and orders of Qutub-Din-Aibak, a commander of invader Mohammad Ghori, who established slave dynasty and raised some construction at the same very place of temples naming it as, Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque," the suit said, as quoted by ANI. 

It claimed the ASI as stating that 27 Hindu and Jain temples were demolished and Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque was raised inside the complex reusing the materials, and sought "restoration" of the demolished temples. 

The suit sought to declare that Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh, Lord Sun, Goddess Gauri, Lord Hanuman, Jain deity Tirthankar Lord Rishab Dev have the right to be "restored" within the temple complex at the site of Quwwatul Mosque Complex, Mehrauli, south-west Delhi "after rebuilding it with the same honour and dignity". 

The matter would now be heard next on May 24.

(With Agency Inputs)