During Friday prayers at Delhi’s historic Jama Masjid, Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari became emotional over growing communal tensions in the country. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and address the concerns of the Muslim community.
“We are standing in a situation worse than 1947. No one knows which way the country will go in the future,” said Bukhari, with tears in his eyes.
Bukhari appealed to PM Modi to initiate dialogue between communities, suggesting a meeting of three Hindu and three Muslim representatives. “You (PM Modi) should do justice to the chair you are sitting on. Win the hearts of Muslims. Stop those who are creating tensions and disturbing the country’s atmosphere,” he stated.
He also urged Muslim youth to remain patient in the face of provocations.
The Imam’s appeal followed violent clashes in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal on November 24, where four people lost their lives, and several others were injured. The violence erupted during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in the Kot Garvi area. The petition behind the survey claimed the mosque was built on the site of a former Harihar temple.
The situation in Sambhal remains tense since the survey began on November 19. Similar petitions demanding surveys of mosques have emerged in other parts of the country.
Referring to the Sambhal incident and similar cases, Bukhari expressed concern about the increasing number of mosque surveys. “The government should seriously think about these surveys in Sambhal, Ajmer, and elsewhere. These things are not good for the country,” he said.
Bukhari also pointed to a plea filed in a Rajasthan court, claiming the Ajmer Sharif Dargah was built over a Shiva temple. The court has admitted the petition and issued notices to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Ajmer Dargah Committee, and the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs.
In his address, Bukhari reflected on the historical consequences of communal divisions. “Moments committed mistakes, centuries got punished… how long will the country run like this? How long will Hindu-Muslim, temple-mosque issues continue?” he questioned, emphasizing the need for unity and harmony in the nation.
