New Delhi, Apr 07: In an effort to solve the vexed Bhojshala issue, the Central government on Monday announced that Hindu devotees will be allowed to offer puja inside the disputed shrine on Tuesdays and Muslims on Fridays. The order was issued by the Director General, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under the Archaeological Act 1959, that in effect modifies a suggestion made by the district magistrate of Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh that Hindu devotees be allowed to offer prayers for two hours on Tuesday, official sources said. The order allows free entry for puja from dawn to dusk on Tuesday. The devotees will be allowed to carry one or two flowers and a few grains of rice to offer the deity. Prayers will also be permitted on Saraswati puja. On Fridays Muslim devotees will be given free access to offer namaaz at the mosque for two hours from 1 to 3 pm, as is the usual practice. For the rest of the days, visitors will be allowed entry for a fee of Rs 1.
A letter has also been sent to the Home Secretary in this regard. The government order makes clear that the state government will be responsible for maintaining law and order.

The disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Moula, an ASI monument that houses both a temple and a mosque, has been threatening to take serious communal overtones since earlier this year when Hindu organisations demanded that a state government ban on daily prayers at the temple be lifted. The ban had been imposed by the Digvijay Singh government in 1997.

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The Hindu Jagran Manch has been up in arms that Muslims were allowed weekly namaaz, while Hindus could offer prayers only on Basant Panchmi or Saraswati puja.

Madhya Pradesh goes to elections this year and the opposition, particularly the Congress, which rules the state, has questioned the motive behind the HJM and VHP demand, accusing the Sangh Parivar of trying to bring about a Gujarat-like "Hindutva" wave prior to the November polls.
Prohibitory orders were imposed in Februray after the HJM threatened to storm Bhojshala. Bureau Report