Jamiat denies Madani’s remarks on dialogue with RSS over Mathura, Gyanvapi mosques

A day after media reports suggested that Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind (JUIH) president Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani had expressed support for a dialogue with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to resolve the disputes over the Gyanvapi and Mathura mosques, the organisation on Saturday issued a clarification stating that his words had been misquoted.

In a statement posted on social media, Jamiat said that a news agency had reported Mr. Madani as saying that Hindus and Muslims should sit together and discuss matters related to the two mosques.

“We clarify that this report is completely baseless and false. Maulana Madani neither made any such statement during his entire interview nor was any question or response related to this issue raised,” the statement said.

The organisation said the question posed during the interview concerned Mr. Madani’s views on the RSS’s outreach towards Muslims.

“Maulana Madani appreciated any progress made by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat towards establishing dialogue to improve cordial relations and mutual ties between the two communities. Referring to the presidential address at Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind’s 34th General Assembly held in 2023, Maulana Madani mentioned that the organisation had already passed a resolution in this regard, which described mutual dialogue as the solution to all problems and warmly invited the RSS chief and his followers to set aside mutual differences, enmity, and hatred, and embrace one another,” the JUIH said.

The organisation further clarified that Mr. Madani had stated in the interview that, with respect to the Gyanvapi and Mathura mosques, it was for the legal parties concerned to decide.

“They have the right to engage in dialogue with anyone while remaining within the framework of Sharia. As for the Mathura issue, a formal settlement was reached in 1968 under court supervision between the Shahi Idgah Committee and the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sangh to resolve the matter. Therefore, there is no real dispute there, nor should there be,” JUIH quoted its president as telling the news agency.

Mixed reactions

In a media interview, Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, when asked about Mr. Madani’s reported remarks on dialogue with the RSS, termed it a “good initiative”.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shahnawaz Hussain also welcomed the reported statement. “There should be a full discussion on Gyanvapi, Kashi, and Mathura,” he said, adding that Jamiat “is a bit late in initiating the dialogue” and should not have abandoned it earlier.

According to reports, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side in both cases, said he and his clients were not willing to settle the matter through dialogue. He expressed confidence in winning the legal battle in courts without compromises.

Mohan Bhagwat’s call

In his three-day lecture series in Delhi last month, held as part of the RSS centenary celebrations, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said that the organisation would not join any more movements for freeing temples. He, however, added that swayamsevaks would not be prevented from joining such causes in their capacity as Hindus.

Mr. Bhagwat also suggested that if Muslims “give away” their claim on the Shahi Idgah in Mathura and the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi to Hindus, the disputes could be settled.

“…there can be a little effort from the other side also… as it’s just the matter of three, take it. This will be a big step towards brotherhood,” he said.