‘Will they burn the entire nation?’: Congressman slams BJP over Rajasthan’s Ajmer Dargah row | Latest news India

Congressman Imran Masood on Thursday criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party following a lawsuit alleging the existence of a Shiva temple within the Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan, saying such actions could “set the entire country on fire. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter, questioning the motives behind such disputes.

“Will they (BJP) burn the entire nation for their political benefit?” news agency ANI quoted Imran Masood.

Masood added: “Such things will set the whole country on fire. What’s happening? The Prime Minister must look into this matter and the Supreme Court must take cognizance of this matter. Where do you want to sideline an entire community? You do not leave their religious places and properties. Where do you want to sideline us?… Under which mosques are you going to look for temples? Is there a limit or not? They (the central government) have ignored the Worship Act 1991. Will they (BJP) burn the entire nation for their political benefit?”

What is the dispute?

The controversy started after Vishnu Gupta, president of the Hindu National Army, filed a case alleging the presence of a Lord Shiva temple in the area. Ajmer’s Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah Shrine. Gupta said on Wednesday that the court had accepted their case and scheduled the next hearing for December 20.

“Today, the court admitted our case and issued notices to the Dargah Committee, Ministry of Minority Affairs and Archaeological Survey Department. The next hearing is December 20,” Gupta told ANI.

Meanwhile, Syed Naseruddin Chishty, chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, condemned the growing trend of various groups laying claim to mosques and dargahs.

“These incidents are increasing in the country. Every second day we see groups claiming mosques and dargahs. This is not in the interest of our society and our country. Today, India is becoming a world power… Till when will we remain stuck in the temple and mosque controversy?” said Syed Naseruddin Chishty, chairman of All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council.

Chishty called for the central government’s intervention, urging it to create laws and issue guidelines to prevent claims on religious institutions. “Ajmer has a history of 850 years… I appeal to the Government of India to intervene in this matter. A new law should be made and guidelines should be issued so that no one lays claim to religious organizations like this… In 2022, (RSS chief) Mohan Bhagwat had said, how long will we continue to find Shivalayas in mosques, and it is me agree with him,” he said.

A court in Rajasthan on Wednesday issued notices in response to a lawsuit filed by Hindu groups alleging the presence of a Hindu temple under the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Dargah in Ajmer, seeking the right to worship at the site.

Civil Judge Manmohan Chandel heard the case, titled ‘Bhagwan Shri Sankat Mochak Mahadev Virajman vs. Dargah Committee’, tabled by Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta in September. The court issued notices to the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Ajmer Dargah Committee and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which were named as parties in the suit.

The petitioner’s lawyer Ramswaroop Bishnoi referred to Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive, a 1911 book by retired judge Harvilas Sharda. According to the book, rubble from a Hindu temple was used in the construction of the dargah, and within the sanctum is a shrine or cellar that reportedly contained a Shiva Lingam once worshiped by a Brahmin family. The book also claimed that remains of a Jain temple were integrated into the structure of the dargah, including elements visible in the 70-foot-tall buland darwaza.

Earlier this month, a survey team conducted an inspection of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh district. Sambhal district found under heavy police guard pelting stones by some people.

The investigation was initiated as part of legal proceedings arising out of a petition filed by senior advocate Vishnu Shanker Jain, who alleged that the mosque was originally a temple.