Ajmer Dargah Dispute: Hindu Sena’s Temple Claim Sparks Row.

Hindu Sena’s Court Bid to Claim Ajmer Dargah as Temple Sparks Controversy.

The Hindu Sena has sparked controversy by filing a lawsuit in Ajmer, claiming the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah was built on an ancient temple site and should be declared a Shiva temple. This move has ignited outrage among Muslims, who consider the dargah a revered shrine. The court has delayed the hearing until October 10, citing jurisdictional issues.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | New Delhi | Sept 26, 2024:: A lawsuit filed by Hindu Sena in an Ajmer civil court has ignited controversy across India. The suit demands that the historic Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah be recognized as “Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman Temple,” claiming it was built on an ancient Shiva temple site. This move has outraged Muslims nationwide, with many organizations and individuals labeling it a deliberate attempt to target the community and fuel communal divisions.

The lawsuit, filed by Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta, was initially scheduled for hearing on Wednesday but was postponed to October 10 due to jurisdictional issues. It was mistakenly filed in the wrong court and has since been transferred to the appropriate court.

This development has sparked widespread concern among Muslims, who view the lawsuit as an attempt to undermine their religious heritage and create communal tensions. The outcome of this case will be closely watched, as it may have significant implications for India’s cultural and religious landscape.

‘It’s a conspiracy to target our dargahs and mosques’

The court has yet to decide whether a petition filed by Hindu Sena can be transferred or if it’s admissible. The petition, filed by advocate Shashi Ranjan Kumar Singh, claims the Ajmer Dargah was built on an ancient Shiva temple site and demands its removal, along with a survey by the Archaeological Survey of India and the reconstruction of a Shiva temple.

Singh asserts the suit is based on facts from authentic sources, alleging Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti arrived in Ajmer with Mohammad Ghori, who destroyed several temples, including the Sankat Mochan Mahadev temple, after defeating Prithviraj Chauhan. The Hindu Sena points to the shrine’s entrance gate, resembling a Hindu structure, and historical records suggesting a Shiva temple existed at the site.

Leaders from various Muslim organizations have strongly condemned the lawsuit filed by Hindu Sena regarding the Ajmer Dargah. Syed Sarwar Chishti, secretary of Anjuman Syed Zadgan, labeled the claim as “frivolous” and an attack on the holy shrine, hurting sentiments of millions of Hindu and Muslim devotees.

Asaduddin Owaisi, president of AIMIM, pointed out the hypocrisy of the situation, highlighting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sends a Chadar to the shrine every year during Urs. He believes this petition violates the Places of Worship Act and is backed by the BJP, targeting the dignity of Sufism followers and India’s pluralism.

Rajvardhan Singh Parmar, national president of Maharana Pratap Sena, has also claimed earlier that the Ajmer Dargah is actually a sacred Hindu temple. He points to Hindu symbols within the complex and nearby Adhai Din ka Jhopda mosque to substantiate his claim. Parmar has been advocating for an investigation by the Archaeological Survey of India, similar to those conducted at Ayodhya Babri and Gyanvapi in Varanasi.

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__Inputs from TOI & Zee News via DNA India News.