Gyanvapi litigant alleges harassment, seeks euthanasia

VARANASI: After Vishwa Vedic Sanatan Sangh chief Jitendra Singh Visen announced not to pursue Gyanvapi mosque related cases on June 3, his niece Rakhi Singh, who's the main plaintiff in suit no. 18/2022 filed by five women to seek worship of Shringar Gauri and other deities in Gyanvapi compound, wrote an open letter to the President and sought permission for euthanasia claiming harassment of Visen.
In a copy of her letter shared with the media by Visen, she said, "I am upset with the bid of lawyers of the other four women plaintiffs to defame Visen."
Requesting the President to take early decision on her plea, she mentioned, "I will wait for your decision by 9 am on June 9. In case of no reply till the given time, I will make my own decision."
Referring to suit no. 18/2022 (old case no. 693/2021) Rakhi Singh and others vs UP state and others, Rakhi in her letter mentioned that "since May 2021 other four women plaintiffs of this suit and their lawyers have made a continuous bid to defame my uncle Visen and aunt Kiran Singh. "Initially, in May 2022 it was claimed that we were withdrawing the suit despite the fact that no statement was issued by me or my uncle. This rumour upset the society and my uncle came under mental pressure," she added.
Rakhi in her letter further stated that efforts were made to prove them traitors when they took credit and raised funds. "We avoided reacting in the interest of Hindus as we wanted to see that Gyanvapi is given back to them. But, the bid of spoiling other suits, including the one filed by my aunt Kiran Singh, shocked me as these developments would strengthen the claims of the Muslim side," said Rakhi, mentioning that now she was realising that filing a case with four other women plaintiffs was a mistake, which she had committed and gave them a chance to spoil the cases of "taking back Gyanvapi".
Visen, who is in Delhi, said on Thursday that Rakhi had sent this letter on Tuesday. "On knowing about the letter and its content, I called Rakhi at my place to stay with me. We are convincing her to be strong and think positively about the strategies helpful in winning any war," said Visen.
Earlier, on June 3 Visen had announced to stop pursuing Gyanvapi cases, including Rakhi Singh and others vs UP state and others, contested by him and his family members. Visen's announcement had come after his lawyer Shivam Gaur announced withdrawal from pursuing VVSS cases in lack of communication with the client and non-payment of fee.
Visen engaged a team of lawyers under Gaur after partying ways with Hari Shankar Jain and Vishnu Jain, the lawyers of four women plaintiffs, in May 2022 after their differences increased at a time when the court-mandated survey took place between May 6 and 16, 2022 and claims of unearthing of a 'Shivling' from Gyavapi mosque's ablution pond were made.
Later, Visen filed other suits including Bhagwan Aadi Vishweshwar Viraajman through next friend Kiran Singh and others, seeking ban on entry of Muslims in Gyanvapi premises, handing over the premises to the Hindus and permitting regular 'puja-archana' (worshipping) of Lord Aadi Visheshwar in different court.
However, on the plea of Jains, the district judge court on April 17 transferred seven Gyanvapi related cases, including the suit filed by Kiran Singh as main plaintiff by VVSS, 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.