Dhar, Feb 28: With the Muslim community opposing the Centre's proposal to extend the prayer timings on Tuesdays for Hindus from two hours to eight hours, the Bhojshala issue is far from over. Dhar Urs committee chairman, Nisar Ahmed told a news agency that the Centre's proposal to extend prayer timings on Tuesdays and to allow taking rice and flowers for puja was unacceptable as it was against the established norms of the monument where 'namaz' has been offered for a long time. Union tourism and culture minister Jagmohan in a letter dated February 26 to state chief minister Digvijay Singh had asked his view on opening the Bhojshala on Tuesdays for eight hours from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM and allowing the devotees to take only flowers and rice. Ahmed claimed that no representatives of the Muslim community was present at the all-party meeting and also at the meeting of the organisations held yesterday on the directive of state government to discuss the Centre's proposal. ''If there was someone from our community he was probably from the media,'' he said.

''We would make the district administration aware of our opinion through a letter,'' he added.

The district administration is likely to forward its recommendations to the Centre today incorporating the objections of the Muslims.

Bureau Report