Report misdirected, will contest in court: Muslims

Dhar: Calling the ASI report on the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque Complex "misdirected," the Muslim community here on Tuesday said it would challenge the report, arguing that Hindu temple remains found at the site were part of rubble left behind after the destruction of Raja Bhoj's palace and not a temple. Community leaders said they would contest the report at the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh high court on Mar 16 when it is set to hear objections, opinions, suggestions and recommendations on the ASI survey report, which states that the Kamal Maula Mosque in the Bhojshala complex in Dhar district was constructed using parts of ancient temples, and that the existing structure was built "without much attention to symmetry, design, or uniformity." "Based on scientific investigations, survey and archaeological excavations, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, sculptures, inscriptions, art and sculptures, it can be said that the existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples," the ASI report submitted to the court in 2024 stated. On Monday, it came into public domain after the court – haring the dispute over the site – said it was handed over to petitioners. Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society chairman Abdul Samad, who is also the Muslim sadar (head) of Dhar and a petitioner in the case, rejected the findings. "The ASI report is a misdirection. A report drawn up by the ASI in 1903 had earlier declared it as Kamal Maula Mosque and also declared it a protected monument. We will contest the ASI survey report in the court," he said. Samad alleged that most of the structures were brought to the complex with "ulterior motive." "It was pre-planned. We have been objecting to it since 2003. The survey was ordered in 2024," he said, adding that a British-era ASI survey conducted in 1903 had concluded that the site was a mosque and recorded it as a protected monument. "It was a mosque, it is a mosque; namaz will continue to be offered there," he said. He claimed the mosque was built by Kamal Maulana, a Khalifa of Nizamuddin Auliya who arrived in Dhar in 1295 to spread Islam and built several madrasas and mosques, with the erstwhile ruler of Malwa Mahmud Khilji providing the land. "Since it was difficult to bring in heavy construction material, the builders had picked up structures from the remains of Raja Bhoj's palace there," Samad said. He further claimed that Raja Bhoj's palace was destroyed by the Gujarat-based Chalukya-Solanki dynasty, with some structures taken to Gujarat and others remaining at the site. "Since Raja Bhoj was a Hindu king, the structures found at the complex will certainly have Hindu structures," he said. Samad said he plans to present these arguments before the court at the next hearing.