New Delhi: Former Archaeological Survey of India regional director KK Muhammed has said that Muslims should hand over Ram Janmabhoomi, Mathura and Gyanvapi to the Hindu side. He also urged Hindu groups to stop raising new demands over other religious sites. His remarks come at a time when several petitions concerning historic mosques are pending in courts across the country.
Muhammed described Mathura and Gyanvapi as places of high religious importance for Hindus. He said their importance is comparable to the role of Mecca and Medina for Muslims. He said limiting disputes to these three places would reduce conflict. His comments drew attention because they suggest voluntary surrender of sites that remain under judicial scrutiny.
Legal observers noted that multiple petitions against Muslim places of worship are currently active in various courts. They said these cases involve questions of property rights, historical claims and the Places of Worship Act. They added that repeated litigation has increased administrative and financial pressure on mosque committees that defend their ownership before courts.
Muhammed also referred to his involvement in the 1976 Babri Masjid excavation. He said a historian influenced public opinion at the time by questioning the findings. He said this shaped the early phases of the Ayodhya dispute. He added that the historian had not visited the excavation site.
On heritage management, Muhammed said conservation progress slowed during the last eleven years. He described this period as a dark age for the ASI. The ASI Director General denied this assessment. He said the ASI works with a large mandate and continues to restore historic structures.
Analysts pointed to a wider rise in petitions seeking control of Muslim religious properties. They said fresh claims against mosques have increased in recent years. They said this has added pressure on minority institutions that manage these sites.
