Indore: The All India Hindu Mahasabha on March 20 demanded that on the lines of Ayodhya, excavation should also be carried out at the disputed Bhojshala in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh to decide the vexed issue "once and for all".

"If after the excavation traces of masjid are found, then it should be handed over to Muslims and in case evidence of temple is found. then Hindus should be given its proprietary rights," Mahasabha's state unit chief Radheshyam Vashishta told reporters.

However, Vashishta clarified that in the opinion of the Mahasabha, Bhojshala is a Saraswati temple, where Sanskrit classes too were organised in the premises during the ancient period.

Alleging that the government, by describing the Bhojshala as a protected monument of national importance is fooling the people, he asked, "If it is so, then why is the government allowing people to offer 'namaz' on Friday and 'pooja' on Tuesday?"

The shrine should remain open to all the citizens everyday, he suggested.

Vashishta criticised Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, alleging that he has not done anything for Hindus.

He also alleged that both Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were dividing the people for their own vested interest.

Vashishta reiterated that the Mahasabha would stage a 'satyagraha' during Vajpayee's visit to Indore on April 4, over several issues including Bhojshala and Ayodhya.

PTI