Mehbooba, Sajad Lone express concern over court notice on suit claiming Shiva temple in Ajmer Dargah

While PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti described the ongoing situation as “a betrayal of India’s founding ideals”, J&K People’s Conference leader Sajjad Lone expressed “strong disapproval” of a recent court order.

Political leaders from Jammu and Kashmi, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti and J&K Peoples Conference (JKPC) chief Sajad Lone, on Thursday (November 28, 2024) expressed concern over the survey of the iconic the dargah of sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, in Rajasthan.

Ms. Mufti, former J&K chief minister, described the survey as “dangerous trajectory of communal polarisation sparked by a controversial judgment delivered by a former Chief Justice of India”. 

Also read: What is the controversy around the Sambhal mosque?

A local court in Ajmer on Wednesday (November 27, 2024) directed that notices be issued to three parties in a civil suit which claims that there is a Shiva temple in the dargah of sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, the plaintiff’s advocate said.

“The judgment was a grave misstep. It has reignited wounds reminiscent of the partition era and pushed India further into a spiral of hatred and violence,” Ms. Mufti said.

Blaming the judgment of the former CJI for numerous cases against Muslim religious places in the country, Ms. Mufti said, “It enabled the targeted surveys of minority religious sites, including mosques and shrines like the iconic Ajmer Sharif, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling to maintain the 1947 status quo. The ripple effects of this decision have already surfaced, with the recent violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, being a chilling consequence of the communal tensions, it has stoked.”

She said the former CJI “opened a Pandora’s box” with his interpretation. “First mosques, and now Muslim shrines like Ajmer Sharif, are being targeted, which can result in further bloodshed. The question remains—who will take responsibility for perpetuating this communal violence reminiscent of the partition days?” she said.

Ms. Mufti described the ongoing situation as “a betrayal of India’s founding ideals”. “India that Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Maulana Azad envisioned is being torn apart by hatred, fear, and division. This isn’t about Hindus or Muslims. It’s about the very idea of India, a land of diverse faiths and shared heritage being systematically dismantled,” Ms. Mufti said.

The PDP leader emphasised the human cost of such communal violence. “It’s the daily wage labourer, the small shopkeeper, the farmer, and the homemaker who suffer the most when violence erupts. Children lose their innocence, families lose loved ones, and communities lose trust. What kind of legacy are we leaving for our future generations?”

Urging people to rise above the hate-mongering, Ms. Mufti appealed to political leaders across the board to show courage and humanity. “We cannot let politics dictate our humanity. Today, it’s Muslim shrines. Tomorrow, it could be any minority community. The flames of communalism don’t discriminate once they’re lit.”

Ms. Mufti said India’s strength lies in its unity and diversity. “I urge the judiciary to reflect on its constitutional duty, and I call on the people of this country to reject hatred and choose harmony over division,” Ms. Mufti said.

J&K Peoples Conference (PC) president and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone also expressed “strong disapproval” of a recent court order permitting the survey of Ajmer Sharif in search of remnants of an ancient Hindu temple.

In an official statement, Mr. Lone criticised the misplaced priorities and growing regression in Indian society. “As 2024 approaches, marking the dawn of the Artificial Intelligence era, society has regrettably chosen the path of regression. The nation’s focus appears entirely consumed by an obsession with uncovering hidden temples. And make no mistakes, a statistically significant section of the population is applauding it,” Mr. Lone said.

He emphasised that Ajmer’s spiritual and inclusive legacy represents spirituality at its finest, serving as a destination where people of all faiths converge, irrespective of religion, caste, or creed, with a unique belief in the spiritual deliverance offered by this great seat of spirituality. 

“Thousands of lives were lost in the battle between moderates and extremists. Yet the moderates did not surrender. .... The ideology of moderation, tolerance, and mutual respect will prevail,” he said.

Published - November 28, 2024 02:28 pm IST