Dhar (Madhya Pradesh), Feb 12 (IANS): The Bhoj Utsav Samiti on Friday shunned the Bhojshala site here for conducting the special Basant Panchami puja on a day when the Muslims also have been allowed a two-hour slot for their 'juma namaz' at the same place.

"We find people inside Bhojshala who have nothing to do with Sarawati puja. So, we will conduct our puja outside," Ashok Jain of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti said as he led the Hindu devotees outside the site.

While the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had scheduled Friday in a way that allowed both Hindus and Muslims to use Bhojshala for their respective modes of worship, the Samiti had demanded that the Hindus be allowed to use the site for the whole day in view of Basant Panchami.

The Hindu Jagran Manch has been supporting the Samiti.

The administration made tight and elaborate security arrangements around Bhojshala to prevent any communal flareup.

Bhojshala is a site in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh of what was believed to be a Saraswati shrine built by Raja Bhoj, who ruled between circa 1000 and 1055, and the Kamal Maula mosque.