22 year old controversy regarding offering namaz in Hanumangarhi is still fresh! Know what was the whole story

Ayodhya: As soon as the name of Hanumangarhi of Ayodhya comes up, a claim again goes viral on social media – "Namaz was offered in the temple premises". This controversy is not new. Its roots go back 22 years and the story is not limited to just Namaz. In the year 2003, efforts were going on to resolve the Ayodhya dispute through talks. Under this initiative, Mahant Gyan Das of Hanumangarhi organized Roza Iftar in his ashram.

Roza Iftar was organized in 2003   

Many Muslim representatives including Babri Masjid plaintiff Hashim Ansari, Muslim leader Sadiq Ali alias Babu Taylor participated in this program. At that time it was considered an initiative to increase Hindu-Muslim brotherhood and dialogue. Mahant Gyan Das was counted among the communicating saints. He had also been the President of Akhara Parishad. His thinking was that trust should be established between the two communities.

Accused of offering namaz after iftar   

The dispute started after iftar was over. It was alleged that during the program, Namaz was also offered in Hanumangarhi premises. It was from here that the matter escalated. Another Mahant Dharamdas of Hanumangarhi opposed this. He said that such an event is not appropriate in the temple premises. The matter reached the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court.

After the hearing, the court banned organizing Roza Iftar in Hanumangarhi premises. After this, there was a lot of tension regarding this issue till 2005. Seeing the growing controversy, Mahant Gyan Das himself said that now iftar will not be held in Hanumangarhi in future.

Mahant Gyan Das’s attempt and its outcome   

Mahant Gyan Das was in favor of talks with the Muslim side to resolve the Ayodhya dispute. He said many times that the problem will be solved only through dialogue. Under this thinking, he tried to increase contact with Muslim children and people of the society. But the Iftar program of 2003 became a cause of controversy for him. After the court’s stay, such events came to a halt in Hanumangarhi.

Why is this discussion happening again today?  

Actually even after 22 years in Hanumangarhi "Namaz" The issue keeps arising from time to time. It is often written in one line on social media that Namaz was held in the temple. But the reality is that it started with allegations related to the Iftar program of 2003.

Later the matter went to court and such events were banned on the campus. This means that even a small thing that goes viral today has a very long and legal background. This is not just an event, but the story of efforts for harmony in Ayodhya and its results.