Ayodhya is not the last: Muslims should hand over Mathura and Gyanvapi to Hindus; K.K. Muhammad
Kozhikode: Former Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) regional director K.K. Muhammad has stirred up a fresh controversy, stating that Ayodhya should not be the only dispute resolved between Hindus and Muslims.
He said Muslims must voluntarily hand over two more historically significant sites—Mathura’s Krishna Janmabhoomi and the Gyanvapi temple site in Varanasi—to the Hindu community.
Speaking to a news agency in Kozhikode, Muhammad reiterated his long-held position. “In my opinion, Muslims should hand over two more historical places to Hindus. These are the birthplace of Lord Krishna in Mathura and the Gyanvapi temple associated with Lord Shiva,” he said.
#WATCH | Kozhikode, Kerala: Former Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) regional director KK Muhammed says, "…I had said Muslims should give up 2 more historical places and these are the temples also – Mathura which is the birthplace of Lord Krishna and Gyanvapi which is… pic.twitter.com/WIDHMswIju
— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2025
He argued that these two places carry immense religious significance for the Hindu community, comparable to the spiritual importance of Mecca and Medina for Muslims. “Just as Mecca and Medina are sacred for Islam, Mathura and Gyanvapi hold the same importance for Hindus. Therefore, Muslims should voluntarily transfer these two sites to the Hindu community so that grand temples can be built there,” he said.
“India is secular only because Hindus are the majority”
K.K. Muhammad also made a strong remark on India’s pluralistic character, asserting that the country’s secularism exists solely because Hindus form the majority.
“Even after Muslims were given Pakistan, India remains a secular nation today only because of the Hindu majority. If India were a Muslim-majority country, it would not have been secular. Muslims must acknowledge and appreciate this reality,” he said.
Muhammad added that the Muslim community should show “goodwill gestures” in resolving long-standing disputes instead of resisting dialogue.
“Do not rely on communist historians”
The former ASI officer sharply criticised communist historians, accusing them of complicating previous disputes such as the Ayodhya case.
“You should not consult communist historians on these matters. In the past, Irfan Habib and some JNU scholars complicated the issue. A section of Muslims was ready to hand over the Ram Janmabhoomi, but these historians poisoned the atmosphere,” he said.
According to Muhammad, many Muslims he personally spoke to were prepared to hand over the Ayodhya site before political interference escalated the controversy. He warned that left-leaning historians “mislead Muslims and create unnecessary conflict.”
Advice to both communities
K.K. Muhammad emphasised the need for a structured agreement between Hindu and Muslim leadership. “Both communities should come to certain rules and conditions. At the same time, Hindus must also understand that beyond these three sites, they should not pursue claims over every mosque,” he said.
He asserted that a balanced, mutually respectful approach would prevent further communal tension and pave the way for lasting harmony.
His remarks have reignited debates surrounding the Mathura and Gyanvapi disputes, topics already before the courts. Political reactions are expected as his statements gain traction nationwide.
