ASI opposes restoring deities at Qutub Minar, says not a place of worship

It said that revival of worship was not allowed wherever it was not practiced at the time of protection of a monument

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Tuesday opposed a plea before a Delhi court seeking restoration of Hindu and Jain deities inside the Qutub Minar complex, saying it is not a place of worship and the existing status of the monument cannot be altered.

The ASI also said that it would be contrary to the law to agree to the contention of any person claiming a fundamental right to worship in this ‘centrally protected’ monument. The ASI, however, said that the architectural materials and images of Hindu and Jain deities were re-used in the construction of the Qutab complex.

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