Secret rooftop namaaz at Bhojshala keeps saffron brigade at bay

Bhojshala (Dhar):Barring sporadic violence, Basant Panchami celebrations were held peacefully at disputed Bhojshala shrine on Friday after Dhar administrative machinery kept its peace formula under wraps till the last moment and swiftly escorted 25 hand-picked Muslims at noon through the backdoor of the heavily-fortified complex and enabled Friday namaaz on the rooftop of the shrine.Azaan (call to prayer) was not done on loudspeaker. Namaaz led by Imam Shakir Mohammad was over in 20 minutes much before the schedule fixed by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for Muslim prayers between 12-3pm.
This even as Hindu hardliners were holding a yagna outside the shrine complex since morning and launching raucous protests for dawn-to-dusk access to the Bhojshala complex. And by the time, devotees thronged the shrine to perform puja in the afternoon, the impasse was broken with saffron brigade unaware of namaaz. Deft handling of the situation ensured harmony on a tense run-up to the festival. A similar strategy was adopted in 2006 when Basant Panchami fell on a Friday.
Indore divisional commissioner Sanjay Dubey said, "We successfully implemented the ASI order that wanted simultaneous prayers by both Hindus and Muslims at the disputed site. First, Muslims offered prayers and later Hindus were allowed inside."
Barring scattered incidents of tussle and slogan-shouting, the day remained peaceful. While entry point for Hindus saw peaceful rallies, few people were detained at another entry gate near Gandhi Colony, which allowed passage to Muslims only. There were minor incidents of stone-pelting at Gandhi Colony gate.
Hindus, who were reluctant to enter Bhojshala shrine till Friday morning, lined up to offer prayers after a massive rally negotiated through Lal Bagh area and reached Bhojshala site at 1pm.
On reaching the site, Hindu leaders asked the administration to make arrangement for them to enter Bhojshala. Convener of Hindu Jagran Manch, Gopal Sharma said, "We will offer prayers inside Bhojshala and between 1pm and 3pm. Now, we request administration to make arrangement for us. We want to offer prayers peacefully."
In what seemed a stage-managed affair, police and administration allowed entry to Hindus one-by-one. Meanwhile, prayers continued outside the shrine at a temporary site from dawn to dusk. In 2006 when Basant Panchami fell on a Friday, 12 Muslims were taken inside the Bhojshala by industry minister Kailash Vijavargiya for namaaz.
Shankracharya Swami Narendranand Saraswati of Kashi Peeth squatted on the road leading to the shrine, demanding entry. Anticipating trouble from Hindu Jagran Manch and hundreds of devotees gathered in Dhar, the administration did not allow the seer to reach Bhojshala site before noon when Muslims secretly offered namaz.
Unlike 2013, security personnel were at ease and controlled entry of devotees of both communities. No teargas shell was fired or vehicles were torched.
"Celebrations were peaceful. No arrest has been made," said inspector general of police (Indore) Vipin Maheshwari.
Bhojshala is being claimed by both Hindus and Muslims as a place of worship. Hindus consider Bhojshala as temple of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati) while Muslims treat it as Kamal Moula mosque.