The focus should be on maintaining the unity that India has long cherished, rather than allowing divisive political tactics to undermine the country’s pluralistic identity
Team Clarion
JAIPUR – The controversy surrounding the Ajmer Sharif Dargah has sparked intense political debate with Muslim leaders strongly condemning the claims made by Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar. The petition in question, which suggests that the Dargah was built over a Shiva temple, has ignited tensions across the state. A local court in Ajmer recently issued notices to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Ajmer Dargah Committee, and the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs in response to the petition.
Madan Dilawar’s comments on the historical claims have deepened the controversy, as he accused Mughal rulers like Babar and Aurangzeb of demolishing temples to construct mosques during their rule. He stated that if the court orders an excavation, decisions would be based on the findings. However, Congress MLA Rafiq Khan voiced strong opposition, calling the petition an attack on the country’s constitutional right to religious freedom and equality.
“This is an attempt to disrupt communal harmony and brotherhood,” Khan said, emphasising that the shrine has been a place of reverence for centuries and the petition challenges its historical significance. He further accused the Narendra Modi government of using such issues to divide communities and divert attention from real concerns, such as youth employment and national development.
Muslim leaders in Ajmer, including Syed Sarwar Chishti, secretary of Anjuman Syed Zadgan, an organisation of the shrine’s caretakers, rejected the claims made by the petitioner Vishnu Gupta. Gupta had referenced Har Bilas Sarda’s 1910 book, which suggests a temple existed at the site before the dargah. However, Chishti pointed out that no such claims have appeared in other historical accounts of the site. “Sarda was not a historian but someone who relayed hearsay,” Chishti argued, stressing that his claims lacked credibility.
Dewan Zainul Abedin Khan, the spiritual head of the Ajmer Dargah, also dismissed the petition, clarifying that for 150 years, no permanent structure had been built at the site where the shrine now stands. He questioned how one could claim a temple existed on land that was not developed until much later.
Both Chishti and Khan warned that such petitions, based on unverified claims, could damage India’s social fabric and harmony. “The Ajmer Dargah is a symbol of unity and secularism,” Chishti said, referencing the long-standing tradition of sending a ‘chaadar’ (a ceremonial cloth) to the dargah from the prime minister during the annual Urs. “It is a place of reverence for all, irrespective of their faith,” he added.
As the debate intensifies, Muslim leaders are calling for the preservation of communal harmony. They argue that the focus should be on maintaining the unity that India has long cherished, rather than allowing divisive political tactics to undermine the country’s pluralistic identity. The leaders also stressed that any legal decisions should be based on historical facts, not subjective interpretations or sensationalist claims.
The ongoing controversy has stirred up emotions, and Muslim leaders across the country are urging both the government and the judiciary to approach the matter with caution. “The true spirit of India lies in its diversity, and we must not let such issues drive a wedge between its people,” said Abedin Khan, underscoring the importance of unity in the face of such challenges.
