Hindutva organisations called for a half-day bandh in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar city on Tuesday, August 25, protesting what they alleged was the administration’s failure to properly implement the Supreme Court’s directions regarding prayers near the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex.
The bandh call led to heightened security across Dhar, with police deployed at several locations to prevent any untoward incident.
Hindutva Groups Protest Prayer Site
Bhoj Utsav Samiti president Suresh Jalodia alleged that the administration was not following the Supreme Court’s direction regarding the location where members of the Muslim community could offer Friday prayers.
According to Jalodia, the court had directed prayers to be offered at Survey No. 596, while the district administration had instead designated Survey No. 612, located near the Bhojshala complex.
“This also blocks the road to the Bhojshala temple. In protest, the Sakal Hindu Samaj has called for a bandh till noon today in Dhar city,” Jalodia said.
Members of Hindutva organisations also held a motorcycle rally and appealed to shopkeepers to shut their establishments. Videos and reports from the city showed some protesters allegedly pressuring shopkeepers to close their businesses.
Police Say Bandh Must Remain Voluntary
Authorities deployed additional security personnel across Dhar as a precautionary measure.
City Superintendent of Police Shashank Singh Gurjar said the situation remained peaceful and under control.
“The situation currently is completely peaceful and under control,” he told PTI.
Gurjar said the administration was ensuring that the bandh remained voluntary and that no shopkeeper or resident was forced to participate.
He also appealed to residents to ignore rumours and report any incident of harassment or forced closure to the police.
Hotelier Pradeep Rathore, who supported the bandh, said the designated prayer site should be located farther from the disputed complex.
“The prayer site should be 300 metres away,” Rathore said.
What Is the Bhojshala Dispute?
The Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex has been at the centre of a long-running dispute between Hindu and Muslim groups. The Hindu side claims the site is a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, while the Muslim side identifies it as the Kamal Maula Mosque.
In May, the Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled in favour of the Hindu claim, declaring the complex a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
The matter later reached the Supreme Court, which directed the authorities to allow Muslims to offer Friday prayers at the adjacent dargah site between 1 pm and 3 pm.
Following the order, the Dhar administration made arrangements at Survey No. 612, where Muslims have been offering prayers in recent weeks.
The dispute has remained sensitive, with large numbers of Hindu devotees visiting the monument on Tuesdays to recite Saraswati Vandana and Hanuman Chalisa and perform havan.
