Supreme Court Mediates in Bhojshala Dispute to Prevent Communal Tension

The Supreme Court of India has intervened in the dispute surrounding the 11th-century Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque in Madhya Pradesh to mitigate tensions on the overlapping occasion of Basant Panchami and Friday prayers. A specific time-sharing formula for worship by both Hindu and Muslim communities has been established.

A heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces is in place in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district as the Supreme Court acted on Thursday to prevent tension at the contested Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque site.

This year's Basant Panchami, a Hindu festival, falls on a Friday, leading to claims from both communities regarding worship at the site. To resolve the potential conflict, the Supreme Court prescribed a time-sharing arrangement.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant ordered that on Friday, January 23, Hindus can perform prayers from sunrise to sunset, while Muslims will offer namaz between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Nearly 8,000 security personnel, including CRPF and RAF units, have been mobilized to ensure peace.

(With inputs from agencies.)