Praveen Togadia made headlines Tuesday by touring the contentious Bhojshala site in Dhar, where Hindu activists persist with their satyagraha. As national head of the International Hindu Council, he lambasted the allowance of Islamic prayers atop clear temple remnants, declaring the time for such appeasement past.
‘Mughal rule ended centuries ago; modern governments must protect faith-based rights,’ Togadia stated firmly. He advocated for absolute, uninterrupted worship access for Hindus at holy precincts like this one.
The morning saw crowds assembling for Hanuman Chalisa chants and age-old ceremonies, all under the watchful eye of the Archaeological Survey of India. Post-satyagraha, Togadia surveyed the grounds and addressed reporters, recalling his pivotal role in the 23-year-old campaign that pried open the site’s locks amid massive public support.
‘I’m here for darshan and blessings from Maa Saraswati,’ he shared, highlighting overt Hindu motifs: Shivlings, deity statues, conches, and esoteric wall carvings. This, he argued, renders namaz inappropriate.
His demands were unequivocal: restore Vagdevi’s sanctum idol, permit Hindu rites without hindrance, and halt mosque activities in the disputed structure. Optimistic about the ongoing scientific probe ordered by courts, Togadia predicted revelations of the true temple character through epigraphs and relics.
ASI’s prior documentation of temple foundations bolsters their claim, he added, decrying the prolonged wait. To fortify Hindu solidarity, Togadia proposed nationwide Hanuman Chalisa sessions twice weekly, targeting a million venues to unite 100 million families in the coming year.
He extended advice to parents: instill moral values in girls from childhood and foster community alertness for protection. This longstanding row traces back to ASI findings in 2024 confirming temple materials in the mosque, now pending high court scrutiny with daily hearings.
