On the recent claims to mosques across the country, the Ajmer Dargah chief said, “What did (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat say in 2022? ‘How long will you look for a shivling in every mosque’? Same was done inside Sambhal. The consequences were that five innocent people lost their lives. Out of the five dead, two were the lone breadwinners.”
![[Ajmer Dargah Row] 'How Long Will You Look For A Shivling In Every Mosque'? Ajmer Dargah Chief Asks RSS Chief Mohan Bhagat After Court Sends Notice To Muslim Side](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-6-2.png?resize=820%2C461&ssl=1)
Rajasthan: Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Ajmer Dargah, Syed Zainul Abidin Ali Khan, the Sajjada Nasheen of the shrine, stated on Thursday (29th Nov) that petitions could be filed for “publicity” or “personal interest.”
He referenced the stone-pelting incident in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, on November 24, which led to the deaths of four people.
This statement follows a Rajasthan court’s acceptance of a petition by the Hindu Sena, claiming that the Ajmer Sharif Dargah is actually a Lord Shiva temple.
“Anyone can approach the court, and the court will entertain the petition. Evidence and proof will be submitted, and the final verdict will follow. There is a long way to go,”
Syed Zainul Abidin Ali Khan told Media.
Responding to a query about why shrines are becoming targets, he commented,
“It is for personal interest and publicity. No one can be stopped from doing this.”
Regarding recent claims on mosques across the country, he pointed to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s 2022 remark:
“How long will you keep looking for a shivling in every mosque?” He connected this to the Sambhal incident, where five people, including two sole breadwinners, died. “This is a huge setback for their families, yet there is no remorse from the authorities,” he added.
Earlier, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi criticized lower courts for allegedly disregarding the Places of Worship Act. He accused the Modi government and RSS of undermining communal harmony and the rule of law, referring to the Sambhal tragedy.
“The BJP-RSS will have to answer for weakening brotherhood and governance in the country,”
Owaisi said.
On November 27, a court in Ajmer issued a notice to the defendants (representing the Muslim side) in a civil suit alleging that the Ajmer Dargah in Rajasthan was built over a Shiva temple. The suit demands that the site be declared the Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman Temple.
Civil Judge (Junior Division) Man Mohan Chandel issued the notice, with the next hearing scheduled for December 20.
The suit, filed by Hindu Sena President Vishnu Gupta through advocate Shashi Ranjan Kumar Singh, seeks the removal of the Dargah Committee from the premises. It also requests that the Archaeological Survey of India conduct a survey of the site.
Advocate Yogesh Siroja noted that he was a descendant of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti but was not included in the suit.
Syed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, expressed concern over the rising claims on mosques and dargahs.
“These incidents are increasing. Such claims are not beneficial for our society or nation. As India emerges as a global power, why remain entangled in temple-mosque controversies?”
he remarked.
In 2023, the Supreme Court permitted a survey at Varanasi’s Gyanvapi Mosque, with then-Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud asserting that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, does not prevent determining the religious character of a place of worship.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti highlighted this point, linking the recent violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, to the judgment.
She remarked, “A former Chief Justice of India has opened a Pandora’s box, igniting a contentious debate about minority religious sites.”
Mufti added,
“Despite a Supreme Court ruling that mandates maintaining the status quo as of 1947, this judgment has facilitated surveys of these sites, potentially escalating tensions between Hindus and Muslims.” She referenced the Supreme Court’s earlier decision allowing a Ram temple in Ayodhya, where Justice Chandrachud upheld the 1991 Act.
Samajwadi Party MP Mohibbullah Nadvi expressed concern, stating, “These events are troubling. Some individuals lost their composure after the 2024 Lok Sabha election results. They are targeting a specific community to appease the majority.”
Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal also commented on X, calling the situation “worrisome” and referencing the recent claims about a Shiva temple at Ajmer Dargah.
He questioned,
“Where are we taking this country, and why? For political gains!”
Sajad Gani Lone, president of the People’s Conference, added,
“Yet another shocker… supposedly hidden within the Ajmer Dargah Sharif.”
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi emphasized that adherence to the 1991 Places of Worship Act would ensure the country is governed according to the Constitution. Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad questioned the frequent filing of such petitions, suggesting they distract from real issues.
Historically, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, a Persian Sufi saint, settled in Ajmer, where a shrine was built in his honor by Mughal emperor Humayun. Both Akbar and Shah Jahan contributed to the site, including constructing mosques within the complex.
The current petition regarding the Ajmer Dargah seeks to grant Hindus the right to worship at the shrine. Vishnu Gupta, head of the Hindu Sena, stated their intention to have the dargah declared the Sankat Mochan Mahadev Temple, advocating for an ASI survey and the cancellation of any dargah registrations.
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