A Hindu organization claimed that Hindu symbols were present on the walls, windows of the 13th century’s dargah and had previously demanded a survey of the premises by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Maharana Pratap Sena, a hindu outfit, has scheduled a march for February 9th, 2024, claiming that the historic Ajmer Darga in Rajasthan is a Hindu temple.
The march is reportedly organized to assert the aforementioned claim, raising concerns about potential communal tensions in the region.
दिनांक 9 फरवरी 2024 को अजमेर में प्रवेश वार्ता आयोजित होने वाली हैं।@Dmajmer @CMORajasthan01 @ABPNews @SudarshanNewsTV @ANI @DDNewslive @NavbharatTimes pic.twitter.com/MLAw15hyS2
— राजवर्धन सिंह परमार (@Rajvardhan_mps) February 4, 2024
The Mausoleum dedicated to the Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, has stood as a symbol of communal harmony attracting millions of devotees who offer prayers there, irrespective of their religion.
The Ajmer Dargah that dates back to the 13th century, was renovated multiple times over the years for restoration and incorporation of modern facilities, as reported by The Hindu.
In a surprising turn of events, in recent years, some have been claiming that the Dargah was, in fact, a temple.
Chief of Maharana Pratap Sena, Rajvardhan Singh Parmar, reportedly claimed Hindu symbols were present on the walls and windows of the dargah.
Moreover, they have demanded a survey of the premises by the Archaeological Survey of India, in a letter to Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.
This comes after the Varanasi court order permitted the survey and eventually allowed prayers to be held in the basement of the Gyanvapi mosque.
https://x.com/Rajvardhan_mps/status/1751196432433127502?s=20
The letter requested the CM ‘to issue necessary directives and conduct an investigation into the Dargah in Ajmer, similar to the investigations carried out in Ayodhya, Babri Mosque and Varanasi’.
Whereas, in the video Parmar was seen saying that his organization had earlier brought this to the notice of the Congress government which was led by Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan.
However, no action was taken by the previous government over the issue, and hence they urged present CM, Bhajan Lal to take action into the matter.
In response to such claims made previously, Moin Chisti, president of Anjuman Saiyad Zadgan, the body of Khadims, had said the claim is baseless as there are no such symbols in the dargah adding that millions of Hindus and Muslims, visit the place every year.
Maharana Pratap Sena has put forth a claim that there is evidence suggesting that the site in question was initially a Hindu temple dedicated to a revered deity. They argue that it underwent a conversion into a Muslim shrine during a certain historical period, citing support from historical texts and archaeological findings. Nonetheless, the mainstream historical consensus contradicts their assertions.
The dargah committee, Dargah Khwaja Saheb Ajmer, has rejected all claims, asserting that the Dargah has been a symbol of unity and spirituality for centuries.
Amin Pathan, chairman of the committee further clarified saying the claims made by the Maharana Pratap Sena aren’t true as there are no artwork or insignia inside the dargah.
“The dargah is a holy place which has the faith of people from all religions. It is unfortunate that such misleading things are being said to malign the image, which looks like a conspiracy. I also demand the government to take strict action against those who are spreading these lies,” Pathan reportedly said.
The shrine has long stood as an addition to India’s rich cultural and religious diversity. The recent assertion is viewed as a challenge to the established historical and cultural narrative surrounding the Dargah.
The Ajmer Dargah’s custodians and representatives argue that attempts to alter the narrative surrounding the shrine are misguided and could have far-reaching consequences for the nation’s social fabric.
Similar instances in the past have proved that the outcome of this situation will undoubtedly have implications for the ongoing discourse surrounding India’s rich cultural and religious heritage.
Therefore, the march scheduled to be held three days from today, will be closely monitored, and authorities are prepared to take swift action to prevent any untoward incidents during the proposed march.
The banner of the announcement reads, ‘Ajmer Dargah nahi, Hamara Hindu Mandir hai (Ajmer is not a Dargah, it is our Hindu temple)’. The press conference is scheduled for the same day at one in the afternoon, at the Ajmer press club.
प्रेस वार्ता दिनांक 9 फरवरी 2024 को 12:30 बजे अजमेर में स्थित प्रेस क्लब में प्रेस वार्ता आयोजित करने हेतु अजमेर के जिलाधिकारी महोदय को पत्र लिखकर अनुमति मांगी।@Dmajmer @CMRajasthan@1stIndiaNews @news24tvchannel@aajtak @ABPNews @ANI pic.twitter.com/9W9zP0shTU
— राजवर्धन सिंह परमार (@Rajvardhan_mps) February 4, 2024
Moreover, the announcement of the march has raised concerns among people including religious leaders, scholars, and local authorities.
There is a growing concern that these claims and public demonstrations may escalate tensions and foster communal discord in the region.
In response to these worries, authorities have deployed security forces to ensure peace and curb any potential communal or political upheaval.
Officials are urging the public to maintain law and order, discouraging activities that could disturb communal harmony.In an effort to diffuse the situation, political and religious figures are advocating for restraint and stressed the necessity of dialogue to tackle these sensitive issues.
