Aurangzeb Demolished Mathura Krishna Janmabhoomi Complex Temple To Build Mosque: ASI Says In RTI Reply

In response to an RTI query, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has provided information regarding the historical records of the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple complex in Mathura.

As reported by Economic Times, the ASI disclosed an excerpt from a Nov 1920 gazette, which stated that a temple of Keshavdev once stood on portions of the Katra mound.

“Portions of Katra mound which are not in the possession of nazul tenants on which formerly stood a temple of Keshavdev which was dismantled and the site utilised for the mosque of Aurangzeb..." ASI stated.

Filed by Ajay Pratap Singh, a resident of Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh stated that although the RTI didn't explicitly mention 'Krishna Janmabhoomi', it did confirmed the demolition of the Keshavdev temple by the Mughal emperor.

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Advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh, president of Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Nyas and one of the petitioners against the mosque, plans to present this as evidence to the Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court.

Singh stated that the ASI's reply, along with the historical evidence, supports their claim that Aurangzeb issued a decree in 1670 CE to demolish the Keshavdev temple.

He believes that this strengthens their demand for a survey of the Shahi Idgah mosque and excludes it from the purview of the Place of Worship Act, 1991.

The report comes amid the recent developments in the case where the Supreme Court had stayed the demand for an Allahabad High Court order on appointing an advocated commissioner to conduct a survey of the disputed Shahi Idgah Mosque in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura.

The High Court had earlier given its nod to the survey by a court-appointed and monitored advocate commissioner.

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