The lower court has accepted the petition that claims the famous Dargah in Ajmer, Rajasthan, as a Hindu temple. The court has issued notices to all parties, setting the next hearing date for December 20. This petition was filed by Vishnu Gupta of Hindu Sena, who alleged that Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti's Dargah in Ajmer is a Hindu place of worship.
On Wednesday, Ajmer West Civil Judge Senior Division Manmohan Chandel heard the petition in court. During this, Judge Manmohan Chandel took note of Vishnu Gupta's case, directing the issuance of summons to the Dargah Committee, Minority Affairs, and ASI and calling them to present on the next date.
Sarwar Chishti, the secretary of the Khadim institution Anjuman Syed Zadgan, released a statement in response. He said that the Dargah symbolizes faith and communal harmony and is a spiritual home to millions worldwide. He noted that they have faced various challenges, and for the past three years, Hindu Sena has been making such claims which are not beneficial for the country.
Chishti stated that after the Babri Masjid dispute, they hoped the situation in the country would stabilize, but that has not happened. He affirmed that they would respond in court, saying the Dargah of Garib Nawaz has been and will remain a center of faith where visitors' wishes are fulfilled. The Dargah has always been a symbol of religious harmony, welcoming individuals from all faiths.
For a long time, Hindu organizations have been asserting the Ajmer Dargah to be a temple. In 2022, the Hindu organization Maharana Pratap Sena claimed it was a temple and requested an investigation by sending letters to then Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and the central government. They sent a photograph allegedly showing Swastika symbols on the windows of Ajmer Dargah.
The court ordered a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, claimed to be the Harihar Temple. The first survey took place at night on November 19, and the survey team reached the mosque again on November 24 (Sunday). Despite the mosque committee's agreement for the presence of both parties, a significant number protested against the mosque survey. As the survey began on court orders, the crowd attacked the police, threw stones, and set several vehicles on fire.
There is a debate over whether Sambhal's Shahi Jama Masjid was built over an ancient Hindu temple. Aajtak investigated the historical and archaeological claims, revealing shocking facts from the Indian Archaeological Survey (ASI) 1879 report. Prepared by A.C.L. Carlleyle, the report titled "Tours in the Central Doab and Gorakhpur 1874–1875 and 1875–1876" detailed a survey of Sambhal's Jama Masjid. According to the report, columns inside and outside the mosque appear to be from ancient Hindu temples, covered in plaster to mask them. Red ancient columns visible after plaster was removed were noted to resemble Hindu temple design and structure.
ASI's survey claimed numerous signs and remnants indicating the mosque's antiquity and its link to an ancient Hindu temple. However, this matter is under judicial consideration, with recent survey findings set to be presented in court on November 29. These findings may uncover more truths.
