Charminar Safety Concerns Rise As Diwali Rush At Bhagyalakshmi Temple Draws Political Leaders

Hyderabad’s historic Charminar has become the focus of renewed controversy after large crowds gathered at the Bhagyalakshmi Temple adjoining the monument during Diwali. The distribution of free silver coins and visits by senior BJP and BRS leaders have drawn thousands of devotees to the shrine, prompting concerns among Muslim activists and heritage commentators over the safety of the 435-year-old monument.

The growing crowds have also brought the temple’s disputed origins and legal status back into the spotlight. While devotees have welcomed the increased footfall, some activists have questioned whether the authorities are adequately protecting the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected Charminar.

Silver Coins Draw Thousands To Bhagyalakshmi Temple

The rush at the temple began last week, ahead of Dhanteras on November 6, and intensified during the Diwali celebrations following the distribution of free silver coins, known as Khazana. The distribution is scheduled to continue until November 11.

The coins are placed at the feet of Goddess Lakshmi during prayers and feature her image on one side and Charminar on the other. Devotees believe they bring prosperity and good fortune.

According to the Deccan Chronicle, queues stretched up to Gulzar Houz, a historic square around 500 metres from Charminar, on November 9. Temple authorities arranged four queues and kept the shrine open round the clock to manage the turnout.

Temple trustee Shashikala said the response had been unexpected. A devotee, Srilatha, told the newspaper that crowds had grown considerably over the years, with visitors now having to wait for hours.

Amit Shah, BJP And BRS Leaders Visit Shrine

The temple has also witnessed visits by several prominent political leaders in the days leading up to and during Diwali.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the shrine on November 2, ahead of a BJP padayatra against the Opposition’s campaign over electoral rolls. On November 6, BRS MLA D Sudheer Reddy and BJP leader P Muralidhar Rao offered prayers.

The temple is a sacred place and has a rich history, said former Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya, who visited the temple on November 7, ANI reported.

Special prayers were offered by the Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and his wife Janaki Shukla on November 8. Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao, BJP Rajya Sabha MP K Laxman were also at the shrine.

Other leaders who joined in on joining prayers were BRS MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav and Telangana State Planning Board vice-chairperson Vijayalaxmi Gadwal and their families.

K Laxman welcomed the growing number of devotees, calling it a matter of pride. Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao also said the temple was witnessing enthusiastic Diwali celebrations, with devotees arriving from across the country.

The growing footfall prompted Hyderabad Traffic Police to issue an advisory and impose traffic restrictions between November 6 and 11. On November 9, police reported slow movement on stretches connecting Salar Jung Museum, Madina and High Court Road, as well as the Afzalgunj-Nayapul route.

Why Muslim Activists Are Raising Concerns

The large gatherings and political visits have triggered criticism from several Muslim activists and commentators, who have questioned the temple’s legal status and the implications for the adjoining heritage structure.

Some have expressed concern that Charminar could face a fate similar to that of the Babri Masjid. Others have accused the authorities of providing legitimacy to a structure that the ASI had previously described as unauthorised.

Hyderabad journalist Mubashir Khurram questioned who was responsible for ensuring the protection of the 435-year-old monument, asking whether the ASI could clarify the legal status of structures adjoining it.

AIMIM leader Mohammed Mubashir also raised concerns, alleging that political parties had legitimised the temple and allowed temporary structures despite the High Court’s status quo order. In a separate social media post, he questioned why no legal petition had been filed challenging the situation.

Social activist SQ Masood, co-founder of The Democracy Dialogue, questioned the symbolism of celebrating Diwali at politically sensitive locations, including Lal Chowk, the Bhagyalakshmi Temple and the Ram Mandir.

Hyderabad-based activist Saif Ul Islam Farooqui questioned the police arrangements, asking why security measures were being made for what he described as an illegal temple.

Sanjaya Baru, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s media adviser, also raised an alarm over the situation. In a post on X, he claimed that Charminar’s destruction was underway and accused the BJP of attempting to communalise Telangana politics.

What Is The Dispute Over Bhagyalakshmi Temple?

The controversy surrounding the Bhagyalakshmi Temple goes back several decades. Charminar was built in 1591 during the reign of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad. However, the origins of the temple near its southeastern minaret remain disputed.

An India Today Magazine report cited an ASI response to an RTI application filed by Hyderabad-based activist Masood. The agency had classified the temple as an “unauthorised construction”.

The ASI had also provided photographs from 1959, 1980 and 2003. While the 1959 image did not show a temple structure at the location, structures were visible in the later photographs.

An earlier account published by The Times of India in August 2001 said a stone marked “0-Hyderabad” stood near Charminar’s southeastern minaret. The stone was reportedly struck by a lorry in 1969, following which the Bhagyalakshmi Temple came up.

Historian Narender Luther told The Times of India in 2012 that the temple had been erected by locals in the 1960s and that nothing had existed at the site before then.

High Court Ordered Status Quo In 2012

The dispute intensified in October 2012 after construction work began at the temple. While temple authorities described it as repair work, the development triggered tensions in the area.

On November 5, 2012, the Andhra Pradesh High Court ordered a status quo, directing that the temple remain in the condition it was in on October 30 that year. The court also prohibited construction that would touch Charminar. The temple committee assured the court that the shrine would not be expanded.

The issue soon escalated into a political confrontation. On November 11, Hyderabad Police detained AIMIM MLAs, including Akbaruddin Owaisi, who were protesting against the alleged expansion.

The following day, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi announced that his party was withdrawing support from the Congress-led Andhra Pradesh government and the UPA at the Centre. He accused the then government, led by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, of favouring Hindu groups.

The High Court upheld the restrictions in 2013 but did not order the temple’s removal.

Allegations Of Expansion Have Resurfaced

Concerns over the temple’s alleged expansion have surfaced several times since then, including in 2018 and 2022.

In October 2018, the ASI reportedly accused the police of facilitating the temple’s expansion through temporary structures and barricades near Charminar, according to The New Indian Express.

Heritage activists once again claimed in October 2022 that the shrine was slowly taking up more space. ASI officials, however, told The Siasat Daily that there were no expansions and it was a temporary adjustment.

The ongoing controversy is once again thrust into the spotlight by the latest floods in Diwali, the giving out of silver coins and the presence of senior political figures. Travellers still visit the shrine and the activists are calling for clarity about the legal condition of the shrine as well as increased protection for the protected Charminar monument.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susmita Modak

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Always love to raise the unraised matter. In a world of worries, I am always ready to come over my comfort zone and taking the step ahead of spreading awareness.

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