Muslims claim their religious gatherings are being targeted without fair explanation, creating suspicion of selective actions
NEW DELHI/SAMBHAL – Residents of the Uttar Pradesh city of Sambhal have expressed their frustration after the administration stopped the annual Urs at the Janeta Sharif Dargah, a centuries-old religious event held in memory of Mauzam Shah. The decision has caused widespread resentment among pilgrims who travel from different states to attend the gathering every year.
Preparations for the four-day Urs were nearly complete. Stalls were ready, arrangements were made, and people had begun arriving. Yet, just before the event was set to start on Thursday, the administration refused permission, saying the Urs had been running for years without authorisation.
A member of the dargah committee said, “We have held this Urs for decades. Not once has the administration raised such objections. Why now? People have come from far away, and we have nothing to tell them.”
The Janeta Sharif Dargah is already under scrutiny by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and local authorities. A resident, Mohammad Javed, claimed that the annual Urs lacked official permission, prompting an investigation. The administration has now blocked the event until the inquiry report is submitted.
A devotee who had travelled from Rajasthan said, “We wait for this Urs every year. It is not a political event; it is a spiritual gathering. The sudden ban feels like an insult to our faith.”
This is not an isolated incident. Earlier, the administration also stopped the Urs at the well-known Syed Salar Dargah, adding to what locals say is an ongoing pattern of interference in Muslim religious programmes.
A Sambhal resident remarked, “If there are issues, talk to the organisers. Why stop the Urs at the last minute? It feels like only our religious events are being questioned.”
The Dargah’s Mutawalli, Syed Shahid Mian, is currently facing allegations related to his assets. He is accused of occupying government land and of running a hospital illegally inside the Dargah premises. The NIA has now asked the Sambhal police for a detailed report on his assets.
Supporters of the dargah, however, argue that the investigation should not affect the Urs, which is a public religious event. One local leader said, “If there is a case, let the law handle it. But why punish thousands of innocent people who come here to pray?”
The sudden cancellation has left many traders and workers without income. For several families, the Urs brings seasonal business that supports them for months. Now, they face losses with no alternative arrangements.
A shopkeeper near the dargah said, “We bought goods, invested money, and now we have no way to sell anything. Who will answer for this?”
People in Sambhal say the timing of these bans raises doubts. The fact that two Muslim religious events have been stopped in a row has created fear that the administration is becoming hostile towards their traditions.
One pilgrim summed up the mood, saying, “These events are part of our history. Stopping them without warning hurts our hearts. Faith is not a crime.”
As the investigation continues, the silence from authorities has only increased uncertainty. Whether the Urs will be allowed again remains unclear, but the disappointment among devotees is now turning into anger, and many believe the issue may not be resolved soon.
