A local court in Ajmer has set a hearing for January 24 regarding a petition to declare the Ajmer Dargah a Hindu temple, led by Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta. The petition alleges the dargah was built over a Shiva temple. The case has sparked controversy, provoking concerns over communal harmony.
Ajmer: A local court in Ajmer witnessed a flurry of legal activity on Friday as five applications were filed to become parties in a petition seeking the Ajmer Dargah of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz to be declared a Hindu temple. The next hearing in this contentious case has been scheduled for January 24.
The petition, led by Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta, alleges that the dargah was constructed over a Shiva temple. Gupta has requested a survey to substantiate the claim.
“The court admitted the petition on November 27 and issued notices to the Ajmer Dargah Committee, the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI),”
said Yogendra Ojha, Gupta’s counsel.
During Friday’s proceedings, five applications were moved by prominent stakeholders, including Ajmer dargah deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan, the body of Khadims known as ‘Anjuman Syed Zadgan,’ and other individuals.
Nasiruddin Chishti, representing Khan, emphasized the spiritual leader’s vested interest, stating,
“My father is the spiritual head of the shrine, and therefore, he should be made a party.”
Anjuman secretary Sarwar Chishti also confirmed filing an application on behalf of the Anjuman committee.
The court acknowledged these applications and fixed the next hearing date for January 24, allowing time for all parties to respond.
The ASI, the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the Ajmer Dargah Committee responded to the court’s notice by requesting documents to support the petitioner’s claim. These documents are expected to clarify whether a Shiva temple existed at the site before the shrine was established.
The petition has sparked widespread outrage among Muslim leaders, who have condemned it as divisive. They argue such actions threaten the country’s unity and harmony.
“Such developments are against the unity and brotherhood in the country and must be stopped,”
said a representative from the Anjuman committee.
The Ajmer Sharif Dargah, built in honour of Persian Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, is one of India’s holiest Muslim shrines and a symbol of communal harmony. Established between 1192 and 1236 AD, the shrine was built by Mughal king Humayun and later enriched by Akbar and Shah Jahan, who added mosques within its complex.
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