Vedic Sangh chief announces withdrawal from Gyanvapi cases

VARANASI: Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh (VVSS) chief Jitendra Singh Visen has announced withdrawing himself and his family members from all Gyanvapi-related cases, including Rakhi Singh and others vs UP state - which seeks regular worship of Goddess Shringar Gauri and other deities in the Gyanvapi mosque compound - citing lack of resources. Visen's announcement came at a time when his lawyer Shivam Gaur announced to withdraw himself from pursuing all VVSS cases due to a lack of communication with the client and non-payment of his legal fees.
Five women plaintiffs, including Visen's niece Rakhi Singh, had filed the original Shringar Gauri suit in August 2021, but Rakhi and other women had parted ways in May 2022.
On Saturday, Visen said, "I and my family are quitting all the cases we had filed in different courts in the interest of the country and dharma. After filing all these cases, including those filed by my wife Kiran Singh and niece Rakhi Singh as main plaintiffs, we are being harassed by anti-religious people and those who are against Hindu Dharma."
"The society is also standing with the forces which are interested in gifting Gyanvapi to Anjuman Intezamia Masajid (Gyanvapi mosque management committee)... In the 'Rakhi Singh and others vs UP state and others', the demand is to seek worshipping rights at Shringar Gauri and other deities in Gyanvapi in the individual capacity of the plaintiffs. It will not help in taking Gyanvapi back," he said.
Before Visen, his lawyer Gaur announced that he was contesting Gyanvapi cases since 2021 after Visen appointed him as advocate. "I had to spare most of my time to contest these cases by staying away from Delhi. However, for the past several months, Visen is not making his intentions clear and there is a lack of communication creating confusion," said Gaur, who practises at SC, mentioning that he had not received any payment from his client since May 2022.
In August 2021, Rakhi Singh, Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas and Rekha Pathak had filed a suit before civil judge (senior division) to seek worship of Goddess Shringar Gauri and other deities in the Gyanvapi mosque compound.
Differences started surfacing between Visen and lawyers of the other four women plaintiffs, including Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain, after the SC transferred the original Gyanvapi case to the district judge.
Visen engaged a team of lawyers under Gaur. He also filed other suits, including Bhagwan Aadi Vishweshwar Viraajman, through next friend Kiran Singh, his wife, seeking a ban on entry of Muslims in Gyanvapi premises.
In view of the plea of Jains, the district judge court on April 17 transferred seven Gyanvapi-related cases, including the suit filed by Kiran Singh as the main plaintiff, to his court from different civil courts despite strong opposition by Visen's lawyer Gaur. On May 23, the district judge ordered that all seven transferred cases would be consolidated with Rakhi Singh and others vs UP state other cases for hearing.