PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti raised alarm on Friday regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding the Ajmer Dargah, stating that the “secular foundations of the country are being shaken” and a “Hindu-Muslim rift is being created.”
Mufti criticized recent developments, saying, “A decision was made that a survey could be conducted at any place that is in doubt. The 1991 Supreme Court decision states that the status of a religious place as it was in 1947 cannot be changed.” She expressed concern over former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud’s remarks, which she believes have contributed to the current tensions. “Unfortunately, the former Chief Justice gave a decision which led to the search for Shivlings in mosques, and now these searches are also being conducted in shrines, places like Ajmer Sharif, which is 800 years old and attracts more Hindu visitors than Muslims,” Mufti told the media.
The PDP leader warned that the country is being pushed toward violence and attributed the current situation to the former Chief Justice’s role. “Soon, they may start searching houses of Muslims. They are taking the country towards partition and violence like in 1947. The secular foundations of our country are being shaken. They are creating a Hindu-Muslim rift, and the ex-Chief Justice has played a very bad role in this,” she added.
The controversy intensified earlier this week when a Rajasthan court issued notices to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the Ajmer Dargah chief in response to a petition claiming that the Ajmer Dargah is built on the site of a temple. “A local court in Ajmer directed that notice be issued to three parties in a civil suit that claims that there is a Shiva temple in the dargah of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer,” the plaintiff’s advocate stated.
Advocate Yogesh Siroja, representing the plaintiff, confirmed that the suit was heard in the court of Civil Judge Manmohan Chandel. “The concerned parties have been issued notices; one is the Dargah Committee, the ASI, and the third is the Ministry of Minority Affairs. I am a descendant of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty, but I have not been made party to it… We are in touch with our legal team,” he added.
Syed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, also criticized the increasing incidents where various groups are staking claims to mosques and dargahs. “These incidents are on the rise in the country. Every second day we see groups claiming mosques and dargahs. This is not in the interest of our society and country. Today, India is becoming a global power. Till when will we remain stuck in the temple and mosque controversy?” he stated.
