MP High Court declares disputed Bhojshala site a temple; Vishnu Shankar Jain exclusive; more

The Madhya Pradesh High Court's Indore bench has declared the Bhojshala complex in Dhar district a temple, quashing a 2003 Archaeological Survey of India order that allowed Friday Namaz at the site. Based on an ASI survey report, the court identified the complex as a historic Sanskrit learning center of the Parmar dynasty where Hindu worship remained uninterrupted. The ruling suggests the state government allot separate land for a mosque and consider repatriating the original idol from the United Kingdom. While the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister welcomed the verdict as a step toward preserving cultural heritage, opposing parties plan to challenge it in the Supreme Court. Separately, the Prime Minister’s visit to the United Arab Emirates resulted in a Strategic Defense Partnership and energy security agreements. Additionally, the BRICS foreign ministers meeting in New Delhi concluded with a chair statement calling for a Gaza ceasefire, reflecting internal divisions over the West Asia conflict and the Places of Worship Act debate.