Ex-ASI Official Urges Compromise: Muslims Should Yield Gyanvapi, Hindus Should Drop Fresh Claims

Former Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) regional director KK Muhammed has urged moderation in ongoing mandir–masjid disputes, saying discussions should be limited to three sites — Ram Janmabhoomi, Mathura and Gyanvapi.

He argued that Muslims should “willingly” hand over these places to Hindus, while the Hindu community should refrain from expanding demands to other locations.

Speaking to India Today, Muhammed said Mathura and Gyanvapi hold immense religious significance for Hindus, “as important… as Mecca and Medina are for Muslims.” He warned that adding more sites to the list of disputes would only deepen social tensions at a time when several related cases are already pending before courts.

‘Left propaganda fuelled Ayodhya row’

Recalling his participation in the 1976 Babri Masjid excavation under archaeologist BB Lal, Muhammed claimed the Ayodhya controversy intensified due to the influence of a “communist historian” who, he said, wrongly convinced Muslim groups that no evidence of a temple had been found beneath the structure. Most Muslims, according to him, were initially open to resolving the dispute.

He criticised what he called “false narratives” by individuals who, he said, neither visited the site nor engaged with the excavation process.

‘Limit demands to three sites’

On the broader mandir–masjid debates, Muhammed said both communities needed restraint. “Other than these three, there should be no demand coming from the Hindu community,” he said, adding that pursuing additional claims would only escalate conflict. He also remarked that there was “no internal mechanism” within the Hindu community to curb such calls.

Muhammed dismissed claims by some groups that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu structure, calling them “totally false.” He cited documented evidence showing the site’s transfer from Raja Man Singh to Jai Singh and later to Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

Calls current phase ‘dark age’ for ASI

Criticising the state of heritage conservation, Muhammed said expectations from the BJP government on boosting cultural preservation “did not materialise.” He described the past 11 years as a “dark age” for the ASI, claiming that restoration work — including at the Bateshwar temple complex — had slowed drastically.

ASI DG refutes allegations

Responding to his comments, ASI Director General Yadubir Singh Rawat rejected the claims, asserting that the organisation continues to undertake significant conservation work despite managing thousands of monuments. He questioned why such concerns were not raised during Muhammed’s tenure in the ASI and stressed that the institution does not take political positions, focusing solely on establishing historical evidence on archaeological grounds.