New Delhi:
After the survey of Gyanvapi Masjid, now a controversy has arisen regarding the Qutub Minar of Delhi. After idols of Hindu deities were allegedly found from Qutub Minar, it was claimed that this monument was built by Hindu emperor King Vikramaditya.
Now, the Ministry of Culture has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to excavate and study the sculptures at Qutub Minar.
Former Regional Director of ASI Dharamvir Sharma claimed that Qutub Minar was built by King Vikramaditya to study the direction of the Sun and not by Qutb al-Din Aibak.
The Ministry of Culture has also asked the ASI to submit its excavation report. It is being told that excavation can be started at a distance of 15 meters from the mosque to the south of the minaret. The decision was taken by the Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Govind Mohan during a site visit with officials on Saturday, May 21.
Govind Mohan visited the site along with three historians, four ASI officers and researchers. ASI officials told the secretary that no excavation work has been done in the Qutub Minar complex since 1991.
Earlier, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) spokesperson Vinod Bansal had claimed that the Qutub Minar was actually a ‘Vishnu Stambh’ and that the structure was constructed from material obtained after demolishing 27 Hindu-Jain temples.
Several Hindu groups protested, chanted Hanuman Chalisa and demanded renaming of Qutub Minar to Vishnu Stambha, as a 1200-year-old idol of Lord Narasimha, Lord Ganesha and Lord Krishna were found inside Qutub Minar.
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