[Shri Krishna Janmabhumi] 'Ready to offer larger piece of land in exchange for temple land': Hindu Organisation moves Mathura Court

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On Tuesday, June 22, Sri Krishna Janmabhumi Mukti Aandolan Samiti filed an application before a Mathura Court stating that it will offer a larger piece of land in exchange of temple land, upon which the Shahi Masjid allegedly stands around the Katra Keshav Dev Temple complex.

The Hindu organization in its application as filed before Mathura Senior Civil judge stated,

“A piece of land larger than the one on which Shahi Masjid stands would be given to the mosque management committee outside the Chaurasi Kos Parikrama circuit of the temple town if the committee agrees to voluntarily demolish the Mughal era shrine on its own.” 

The counsel for the Hindu Samiti filed the application, requesting the court to make it a part of an earlier lawsuit for removal of the mosque from near the temple, pending with the court since December 2020. For senior Civil Judge being on leave, the application was submitted to Civil Judge II Anupam Singh.

"Intazamia Committee (management committee) would be offered a piece of land larger than the one on which Shahi Masjid Idgah stands," said advocate Mahendra Pratap Singh, the president of Sri Krishna Janmabhoomi Mukti Aandolan Samiti," reported The Indian Express.

It was further stated by the Samiti that the committee would be given even some more land outside the periphery of ‘Chaurasi Kos Parikrama’ if the mosque’s management committee voluntarily demolishes the existing Shahi Masjid Idgah and the land is handed over to the Samiti.

There are several applications and petitions pending with various civil courts in Mathura, seeking the removal of the mosque allegedly built on orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1669-70 in the 13.37 acre premises of Katra Keshav Dev temple near the birthplace of Lord Sri Krishna.

They have also demanded the annulment of a 1967 court ruling, ratifying a deal reached between the Shree Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan and Shahi Idgah Management Committee, allowing the existence of the mosque near the temple.