The civic court ordered the video survey after five ladies filed a petition asking for permission to worship Hindu deities whose statues are installed on the exterior wall of Gyanvapi Masjid.

However, the survey was halted due to complaints from the mosque committee, who argued that the court-appointed attorney commissioner did not have the authority to video within the mosque. They later accused him of prejudice and requested that he be replaced. But the court ignored this and on May 12, the court directed the committee to finish the poll and submit its findings by May 17.

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid committee filed a petition with the Supreme Court, requesting a stay on surveying the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi Masjid complex.

Gyanvapi Masjid case

On May 14, the exercise proceeded under strict security. On Day 1, four basement rooms were videotaped, three of which belonged to Muslims and one to Hindus. Sources claim that half of the survey has been completed.

After this, the western wall of the Gyanvapi complex was studied on Day 2, where the ruins of the Hindu temple destroyed can still be seen and whose photographs represent the best testimony. The fourth room was opened for this purpose.

On May 16, the court-ordered videography survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid complex was finished. But it created another controversy as a Hindu lawyer claimed that a ‘shivling’ had been discovered within a ‘wazukhana,’ or pond, on the mosque property.

Later on, the Supreme Court directed local authorities to safeguard the ‘shivling; that was allegedly discovered in Varanasi’s Gyanvapi Mosque complex, without impeding Muslims’ freedom to pray.

The court-appointed special assistant commissioner, Vishal Singh, presented the findings on the Gyanvapi mosque video survey to the Varanasi court on Thursday, May 19. The courtroom was packed with witnesses from both sides. Since then, both claim their own versions of the truth, but the real question is what’s the actual matter? So, let’s find out about it and then, later, we will go through the evidence of its demolition.

What’s the matter?

The Hindu side alleges that the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb demolished a part of the Kashi Vishwanath temple on which the Gyanvapi mosque now sits.

The evidence of the Kashi Vishwanath temple’s demolition is mentioned in Maasir-i-Alamgiri, Saqi Mustaid Khan’s history of Aurangzeb’s reign.

The initial portion of the book was written while the emperor was still living, and the remainder was finished after he died. Let me inform you that this book was originally written in Persian and translated during British rule by historian Jadunath Sarkar.

Below are some of the important snippets from Maasir-i-Alamgiri book

According to the text in Maasir-i-Alamgiri, the emperor learned of the doctrines of “misbelievers” at Benaras on April 8, 1669. A paragraph reads,

“The lord cherisher of faith learnt that in the provinces of Tetta, Multan, and specially in Benaras, the brahmin misbelievers used to teach their false book in their established schools and that admirers and students of both Hindu and Muslim used to come from great distances to these misguided men to acquire this vile learning.”

It further says,

“His majesty eager to establish Islam orders to the governor of all the provinces to demolish the schools and temples of the infidels and with the utmost urgency to put down the teachings and public practice of the religion of these misbelievers.”

According to the book, on September 2, 1669, it was claimed that the emperor’s officers had destroyed the temple of Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi on his orders.

In India, the bond between grandparents and their grandchild seems very special. That’s why whenever someone’s child is getting married, all their parents want is a grandchild. It’s not that they don’t love their child so much but the grandchild holds a special place in each other’s hearts.

But sometimes, this love can be changed into obsession. The same happened recently. A couple has filed a court action against their son and daughter-in-law in Uttarakhand, requesting either a grandchild or Rs 5 crore in compensation. Yes, you heard it right!

The Haridwar parents claimed to have put money into their son’s schooling. They had to take out a loan to construct their home and are now bankrupt. As reported by ANI, Sanjeev R Prasad and Sadhana Prasad told a court in Uttarakhand on Wednesday,

“We just wanted a grandchild.”

Haridwar, Uttarakhand | Parents move court against son&daughter-in-law, demand grandchildren/Rs 5 cr compensation.

They were wedded in 2016 in hopes of having grandchildren. We didn’t care about gender, just wanted a grandchild: SR Prasad, Father pic.twitter.com/mVhk024RG3

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 11, 2022

After paying for his son’s education and training in America, Prasad claims he has no money left. As quoted by ANI, he said,

“I gave my son all my money, got him trained in America. I don’t have any money now. We have taken a loan from bank to build home. We’re troubled financially and personally. We have demanded Rs 2.5 crore each from both my son and daughter-in-law in our petition.”

He added,

“We got them married in 2016 in the hopes of having grandchildren. We didn’t care about gender, we just wanted a grandchild.”

According to the Times of India, the Rs 5 crore compensation they are seeking includes the expense of a five-star wedding event, an $80,000 luxury automobile, and paying for the couple’s vacation overseas. The parents also paid $65,000 to have their son trained as a pilot in the United States, only to have him return to India jobless, according to the newspaper.

According to sources, Sanjeev Prasad and Sadhana Prasad’s son Shrey Sagar married Shubhangi in 2016. The couple travelled to Thailand for their honeymoon.

Sadhana Prasad said,

“We did everything for our child. We raised him in the best possible manner. We spent Rs 35 lakhs and sent him to the USA for his pilot training course, and spent extra Rs 20 lakhs for his posh lifestyle. Also, we bought an Audi car for him and his wife. The car cost us a loan worth Rs 65 lakhs. We got him married in 2016 so that he could continue our family name. But it’s been six years and they are not fulfilling our wish.”

The elderly couple said in their petition,

“We also had to take a loan to build our house and now we are going through a lot of financial hardships. Mentally too we are quite disturbed because we are living alone.”

I gave my son all my money, got him trained in America. I don’t have any money now. We have taken a loan from bank to build home. We’re troubled financially& personally. We have demanded Rs 2.5 cr each from both my son & daughter-in-law in our petition: SR Prasad, Father pic.twitter.com/MeKMlBSFk1

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 11, 2022

In this case, the parents’ lawyer is Advocate AK Srivastava. He told ANI,

“This case portrays the truth of society. We invest in our children, and make them capable of working in good firms. Children owe their parents basic financial care. The parents have demanded either a grandchild within a year or compensation of Rs 5 crores.”

This case portrays the truth of society. We invest in our children, make them capable of working in good firms. Children owe their parents basic financial care. The parents have demanded either a grandchild within a year or compensation of Rs 5 crores: Advocate AK Srivastava pic.twitter.com/uH04Q8jEua

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 11, 2022

While some people backed the elderly couple’s complaint, others criticised them for putting pressure on their son and daughter-in-law. On social media, many people expressed their opinion on this case. One user wrote,

Exactly. First u force your child to study as per your wish and then demand love and sympathy for yourselves. What kind of parenting is this?

— khushi⁷ 💜 (@BtsGirl89835918) May 11, 2022

While another user pointed out,

I am unable to understand the logic. You spent because you were able to. Was there a condition that the son has to support you in return? In what way is having a grandchild solving your financial problems?

— Prassi V (@prassi_v) May 11, 2022

Another user went on to write,

Grand son vs 5cr,logic is damn dead here..😂😂

— Bandana (@Bandana63674449) May 11, 2022

What’s your take on this case?

It’s not unfair to say that The Kashmir Files emerged as one of the most talked-about movies. The movie has attracted lots of mixed reviews. It was released on March 11th, and every day since then, a fresh controversy has erupted over the film.

Let me inform you that the film is based on the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus during the 1990 Kashmir unrest. The film stars an excellent cast including Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumaar, Mithun Chakraborty, and Pallavi Joshi. Tej Narayan Agarwal, Abhishek Agarwal, Pallavi Joshi, and Vivek Agnihotri produced the film under the labels of Zee Studios, IAmBuddha, and Abhishek Agarwal Arts.

But despite having lots of credible casts and makers, the film has made huge headlines all over the world. Recently, the Singapore government has blocked the release of The Kashmir Files in their country. The decision has attracted lots of reactions from various fields. Recently, After Vivek Agnihotri’s film, The Kashmir Files, was banned in Singapore, filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri got into a verbal confrontation with politician Shashi Tharoor when Tharoor used Twitter to share a comment on the ban, writing,

“Film promoted by India’s ruling party, #KashmirFiles, banned in Singapore.”

Film promoted by India’s ruling party, #KashmirFiles, banned in Singapore: https://t.co/S6TBjglele pic.twitter.com/RuaoTReuAH

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 10, 2022

Agnihotri responded to Tharoor’s tweet by calling Singapore the “most regressive censor in the world.” He wrote,

“Dear fopdoodle, gnashnab @ShashiTharoor, FYI, Singapore is most regressive censor in the world.”

Dear fopdoodle, gnashnab @ShashiTharoor,

FYI, Singapore is most regressive censor in the world. It even banned The Last Temptations of Jesus Christ (ask your madam)

Even a romantic film called #TheLeelaHotelFiles will be banned.

Pl stop making fun of Kashmiri Hindu Genocide. https://t.co/QIxFjJW86U pic.twitter.com/kzodpI1CtL

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) May 10, 2022

He went on to say that the government has even banned The Last Temptations of Jesus Christ, and that Tharoor should question him about it. He wrote,

“It even banned The Last Temptations of Jesus Christ (ask your madam). Even a romantic film called #TheLeelaHotelFiles will be banned. Pl stop making fun of Kashmiri Hindu Genocide.”

Agnihotri also wondered if Tharoor’s late wife, Sunanda Pushkar, was a Kashmiri Hindu. He went on to say that Tharoor should apologise to Sunanda’s soul and delete the tweet. He wrote,

“Hey @ShashiTharoor, Is this true that Late Sunanda Pushkar was a Kashmiri Hindu? Is the enclosed SS true? If yes, then in Hindu tradition, to respect the dead, you must delete your tweet and apologise to her soul.”

Hey @ShashiTharoor,

Is this true that Late Sunanda Pushkar was a Kashmiri Hindu?

Is the enclosed SS true?

If yes, then in Hindu tradition, to respect the dead, you must delete your tweet and apologise to her soul. https://t.co/3wgJQnkhVZ pic.twitter.com/98DPB4Gnj7

— Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) May 10, 2022

Anupam Kher, who portrayed the lead in the film, also added his thoughts through Twitter. He wrote,

“Dear @ShashiTharoor! Your callousness towards the #KashmiriHindus genocide is tragic. If nothing else at least for #Sunanda’s sake who was a Kashmiri herself you should show some sensitivity towards #KashmiriPandits & not feel victorious about a country banning #TheKashmirFiles!”

Dear @ShashiTharoor! Your callousness towards #KashmiriHindus genocide is tragic.If nothing else at least for #Sunanda’s sake who was a Kashmiri herself you should show some sensitivity towards #KashmiriPandits & not feel victorious about a country banning #TheKashmirFiles! 💔 https://t.co/YwEsgYWgc4 pic.twitter.com/b7XRL46tIG

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) May 10, 2022

Soon after this, Shashi Tharoor retweets Vivek Agnihotri and Anupam Kher, saying,

“Dragging my late wife Sunanda was unwarranted and contemptible.”

My statement in response to assorted comments on my tweet: https://t.co/7jlJDu6ZSc pic.twitter.com/ouZEQWoGS4

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 10, 2022

He also stated that he tweeted a factual news item without making any remarks on the substance of the film, which he had not watched. He went on to say about her late wife,

One thing I know, unlike those attempting to exploit her when she is not around to speak for herself: She believed in reconciliation, not hate.

According to Channel News Asia, The Kashmir Files were prohibited by Singapore officials due to its “provocative and one-sided portrayal of Muslims and the depictions of Hindus being persecuted in the on-going conflict in Kashmir.”

They also added,

“These representations have the potential to cause enmity between different communities, and disrupt social cohesion and religious harmony in our multiracial and multi-religious society.”

The Kashmir Files is centred on the lives of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 and is based on first-generation victims of the massacre. It depicts the hardship, struggle, and anguish experienced by those caught up in the genocide in Kashmir.