Ajmer (Rajasthan), November 28: An Ajmer court has issued notices to three entities—the Dargah Committee, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the Ministry of Minority Affairs—in response to a petition alleging the presence of a Shiva temple inside the Ajmer Dargah, according to Syed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council.
Speaking to the media, Chishty said, “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 a party to it. We are in touch with our legal team.”
Chishty criticised the increasing frequency of claims over religious sites, calling it detrimental to societal harmony and India’s progress. “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 remarked.
He urged the Central Government to intervene, suggesting that a new law and guidelines be introduced to prevent claims over religious institutions. “Ajmer has a history of 850 years. I appeal to the Government of India to intervene in this. A new law should be made, and guidelines should be issued so that no one claims religious organisations such as these,” Chishty stated.
He also referred to a statement by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in 2022, saying, “In 2022, Mohan Bhagwat had said that how long will we keep finding Shivalayas in mosques, and I agree with him.”
The development comes amid growing tensions over claims on religious sites. Earlier this month, stone-pelting occurred during an ASI survey at Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The survey was part of a legal process following a petition by advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain, who alleged the mosque was originally a temple.
The November 24 incident at Sambhal resulted in four deaths and several injuries, including to officials and locals. A similar survey was conducted peacefully on November 19, with local police and mosque committee members present to oversee the process.