Ajmer Dargah Row: Key Developments and Reactions

The Ajmer Dargah row escalates as a court hears a plea to declare the shrine a Shiva temple. Political leaders and dargah representatives warn against rising communal tensions, while the BJP calls for a sensitive legal approach.

A local court in Ajmer has taken up a petition filed by Vishnu Gupta, president of the National Hindu Army, claiming that a Shiva temple exists within the Ajmer Dargah, a revered shrine dedicated to Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. The petitioner has demanded that the site be declared as the "Sankat Mochan Mahadev Temple" and sought a survey of the premises by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The court has issued notices to the Dargah Committee, ASI, and the Ministry of Minority Affairs, with the next hearing scheduled for December 20.

The case has triggered a political storm, drawing sharp reactions from opposition leaders and religious representatives. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi accused the BJP and RSS of spreading communal hatred, questioning the motive behind targeting sites of religious harmony. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal termed the development "worrisome," suggesting that such claims are being used to polarize society for political gains. Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav also criticized the government, alleging that it is diverting attention from pressing national issues.

Representatives of the Ajmer Dargah have condemned the move, with Syed Sarwar Chishti, a spokesperson for the shrine’s Khadims, warning that such petitions threaten communal peace. He expressed concerns over the growing number of similar claims following the Babri Masjid verdict, citing recent violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal during a mosque survey.

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BJP MP Ravi Kishan called the matter sensitive, emphasizing that it should be resolved through proper legal channels. He stated that if the court has accepted the plea, investigations should proceed without political interference.

The Ajmer Dargah row comes close on the heels of the Sambhal mosque violence, where clashes erupted during a court-mandated survey. The escalating tensions have reignited debates over the politicization of religious sites and the potential impact on communal harmony in the country.