The long-running Bhojshala dispute escalated again in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar on 2 December, after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) stopped Hindu devotees from bringing an oil painting of Goddess Vagdevi into the complex. The ASI also confiscated the painting, triggering sharp anger from the Sakal Hindu Samaj and the Bhoj Utsav Samiti.
Tensions Rise After ASI Blocks Worship
Every Tuesday, Hindu groups conduct a peaceful Satyagraha at Bhojshala with a painting of Vagdevi. This week, they replaced the old painting with a new oil portrait but faced sudden resistance. ASI officials denied entry and seized the painting, even as the devotees waited to perform puja and recite Hanuman Chalisa.
Leaders from the Bhoj Utsav Committee said, “All other activities are carried out without ASI approval, but our worship is blocked. This unfair treatment must end.” They demanded the immediate return of the painting and warned of intensified protests if ASI failed to act.
Hindus Claim Double Standards by ASI
Hindu organisations alleged that preparations for the upcoming Urs, including painting, cleaning, and whitewashing, continued inside the complex without any ASI permission. Yet, Hindu worship, they said, was consistently obstructed.
This contrast has fuelled anger, especially as Vasant Panchami on 23 January coincides with a Friday. Hindus expect uninterrupted worship throughout the day, while Muslims insist on Friday namaz at the same site.
The Larger Dispute: A Temple or a Mosque?
The Bhojshala complex has been the centre of a decades-long conflict. Muslims claim it as the Kamal Maula mosque. Hindus assert it is the ancient seat of Goddess Vagdevi, Maharaja Bhoj’s Saraswati temple.
In March 2024, the ASI began a scientific survey under the orders of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Key findings included:
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Sanskrit–Prakrit inscriptions older than Arabic
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Repeated invocations beginning with “Om Sarasvityai Namah”
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“Om Namah Shivay” inscriptions
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Idols and images of Hindu deities
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Evidence of an ancient educational centre
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Relics found earlier in the 1987 excavation
These discoveries strengthened the historical claim of Bhojshala being a Hindu temple complex.
Why the Latest Incident Matters
For Hindu groups, the seizure of a simple painting, while other unauthorised activities continue, is not a procedural issue but part of a long pattern of selective restrictions. The sense of discrimination has deepened at a site where historical evidence overwhelmingly points to its Hindu origins.
The Sakal Hindu Samaj has now warned of major protests if the painting is not returned and if worship rights continue to be curtailed.
