Varanasi, Hindu petitioners in the Gyanvapi mosque case have submitted an application to the Supreme Court, seeking its intervention to clean the ‘wazukhana’ area. The ‘wazukhana’ is the ablution pond where a disputed ‘Shivling’ was allegedly found. The petitioners express concern about the putrid smell from the water tank after fish deaths between December 12 and 25, 2023.
The application, filed through advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, emphasizes the need to keep the sacred ‘Shivling’ away from dirt and dead animals. The responsibility for the fish condition is attributed to the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, managing the Gyanvapi mosque.
The ‘wazukhana’ area was sealed in 2022 following a Supreme Court order, marking a contentious point in the dispute between Hindus and Muslims over the Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Vishwanath temple complex. The Hindu parties claim the presence of a ‘Shivling,’ while the Muslim side asserts it is a water fountain.
