"Today's decision raises hopes that entire complex will be ours": Kashi Vishwanath Trust president on Gyanvapi case

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 31 (ANI): After the Varanasi district court allowed the Hindu side to offer prayers at the Gyanvapi mosque complex, Kashi Vishwanath Trust President Nagendra Pandey on Wednesday said that today's decision raises hopes that one day the entire complex will be Hindu.
In view of today's decision given by the Varanasi district court, Pandey distributed sweets among his family members and congratulated everyone.
"Today's decision raises hopes that one day the entire complex will be ours. After today's court order, we will talk to the district administration tomorrow," Pandey told ANI.
He said that earlier, prayers were offered at the 'Vyas Ka Tekhana' area inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex.
"Earlier prayers were offered at the 'Vyas Ka Tekhana' area. There are enough priests in the Vishwanath temple; among them, any five will be assigned to offer puja in the Gyanvapi mosque complex. They will perform 'aarti' and offer 'bhog prasad'," Pandey said.
Notably, the Varanasi district court on Wednesday allowed Hindu devotees to offer prayers inside the 'Vyas Ka Tahkhana' area inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex. The court has asked the district administration to make the necessary arrangements in the next seven days.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, told ANI, "Puja will start within seven days. Everyone will have the right to perform Puja."
"Hindu side is allowed to offer prayers at 'Vyas Ka Tahkhana'. The district administration will have to make arrangements within 7 days," Jain said.
The mosque has four 'tahkhanas' (cellars) in the basement, of which one is still in the possession of the Vyas family, who used to live here.
Vyas had petitioned that, as a hereditary pujari, he be allowed to enter the tahkhana and resume pooja. (ANI)