HM Amit Shah was busy campaigning for elections when jawans were killed in Chhattisgarh: Congress
New Delhi:The Congress on Monday demanded the accountability of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the death of 22 security personnel in Chhattisgarh, alleging that he was busy campaigning for elections when the soldiers were killed by naxals.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the party-led government in Chhattisgarh is committed to provide all support to the paramilitary forces and the Centre in their fight against naxalites.
"We are one and united in this fight, but, what about the responsibility of the Home Minister of India for the operation? Shall he continue to evade his duty, be absent completely, continue to do road shows and public rallies for 24 hours and nobody should ask for his accountability because he is the holy cow," he told reporters.
Surjewala said media had demanded the resignation of a minister during the Mumbai terror attack just because the then Union home minister, despite being physically present in Mumbai to oversee the operation, had changed his clothes.
He said there was so much of uproar in the country that the minister had to resign.
"But, here the Home Minister can do road shows with film stars, hold public rallies, be in three different states, not come back to Delhi and then do as a great favour by cancelling the last two rallies in Assam and not be held accountable or not to be asked questions, I do not think so, that should be the yardstick in this country," Surjewala said.
He also claimed that Shah did not return to Delhi or visit Chhattisgarh after the operation, but came back only after more than a day as he continued to campaign in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam for the upcoming assembly elections.
Twenty-two jawans of paramilitary forces died and 31 were injured in a gun-battle with naxals along the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh on Saturday.
Shah on Monday held a meeting with officials in Chhattisgarh and said the fight against ultras will be intensified to end the Naxal menace.
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Bhojshala case: Disputed structure built from remains of pre-existing temples, claims ASI
Indore (PTI): The ASI has told the Madhya Pradesh High Court that a massive structure dating back to the Paramara kings' rule existed at the disputed Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex, and the current structure was built from the remains of temples.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made the claim on Tuesday based on its 98-day scientific survey and over 2,000-page report.
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim side claims the monument as the Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex is protected by the ASI.
During the hearing before Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi of the HC's Indore bench, Additional Solicitor General Sunil Kumar Jain, representing the ASI, presented a detailed account of the scientific survey conducted two years ago at the complex.
Referring to the ASI's survey report, he said, "Retrieved architectural remains, sculptural fragments, large slabs of inscriptions with literary texts, Nagakarnika inscriptions on pillars, etc, suggest that a large structure associated with literary and educational activities existed at the site. Based on scientific investigations and archaeological remains recovered during the investigations, this pre-existing structure can be dated to the Paramara period."
It can be said that the existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples, based on scientific investigations, survey and archaeological excavations conducted, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, sculptures, and inscriptions, art and sculptures, Jain said quoting the report.
Summarising the report, he also drew the court's attention to the fact that the archaeological study identifies that many architectural components, such as pillars and beams, were originally part of temple structures before being repurposed for a mosque.
"The evidence of this transition includes Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions that were damaged or hidden, alongside sculptures of deities and animals that were often mutilated or defaced," Jain contended.
The report also states that "all Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions are older than the Arabic and Persian inscriptions, indicating that users or engravers of the Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions occupied the place earlier".
In light of the Muslim side's earlier objections, the bench wanted to know why there were some discrepancies in the ASI's responses regarding the status of the disputed complex in the cases filed over the years.
The Additional Solicitor General argued that earlier studies of the complex involved only officials, while the current survey involved scientists and the use of advanced technologies such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
The hearing in the Bhojshala case will continue on Wednesday.
The high court has been regularly hearing four petitions and one writ appeal regarding the religious nature of the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex since April 6.
