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Journalism of Courage
Another chapter was added to the Bhojshala shrine’s disputed legacy on Saturday when the Hindu Jagran Manch held a two-hour religious programme inside the protected monument.
Each year, a matru shakti sammelan, a women’s convention, is held in Dhar on the day after Basant Panchami, traditionally in Motibaug Chowk. This year, the HJM ensured the sammelan was held within the Bhojshala complex as the security and administration looked on, apparently oblivious of the Archaeological Survey of India’s directives on the use of the premises.
According to a compromise formula devised by the ASI, Hindus visit the monument every Tuesday and on Basant Panchami, and Muslims offer Friday namaz here between 1 pm and 3 pm.
Deputy Collector R Chaturvedi, who was present inside the monument, later explained,‘‘Maybe they held the convention inside because they were few in number and not enough to fill the chowk.’’
This, however, was not the sentiment expressed by the HJM’s chief speakers at the convention. Sant Chhote Morari Bapu, who delivered anti-Muslim harangue, said,‘‘Despite administrative excesses we won because we did not vacate the monument on Friday. We had declared that we will stay put inside and we did.’’
