Hindu Sena Demands Declaration and Reconstruction of Shiva Temple
A civil court in Ajmer, Rajasthan, has accepted a petition filed by the Hindu Sena, alleging that the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the mausoleum of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, was originally a Hindu temple. The case has been scheduled for hearing on December 20, 2024.
Petition Details and Demands
The petition, filed by Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta, requests the court to declare the Dargah as the ‘Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman Temple’. It alleges that the shrine was built on the site of a demolished Shiva temple.
The Hindu Sena has also sought directives for the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey of the premises, similar to the Gyanvapi survey in Varanasi. The group demands the removal of the Sufi shrine and the reconstruction of the Shiva temple at the location.
Court Proceedings and Summons
Ajmer West Civil Judge (Senior Division) Manmohan Chandel accepted the petition and issued summon notices to key stakeholders, including:
- The Ajmer Sharif Dargah Committee
- The Ministry of Minority Affairs
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
These parties have been called to respond to the petition in court on December 20.
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Historical Claims Made in the Petition
The Hindu Sena claims that the site was historically a Sankat Mochan Mahadev temple and was destroyed during the conquest of Ajmer by Mohammad Ghori. According to the petition:
- Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti arrived in Ajmer with Mohammad Ghori after the defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan.
- Ghori demolished several Hindu temples, including the Sankat Mochan Mahadev temple.
- The design of the main entrance gate of the Dargah resembles a Hindu architectural structure, allegedly corroborating their claims.
Reactions and Accusations
Syed Sarwar Chishti, secretary of the Ajmer Dargah caretakers’ organization, Anjuman Syed Zadgan, dismissed the petition as part of a “larger conspiracy”. He strongly opposed the allegations and criticized the timing and nature of the claims.
This development closely follows tensions in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, where violence erupted after a court ordered a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid over similar claims of it being built on a Hindu temple site.
Next Steps
The case is set for hearing on December 20, 2024. The outcome of the proceedings could have significant implications, given the sensitivity of the issue. The petition, if upheld, could lead to a survey and further investigations into the historical claims surrounding the Ajmer Sharif Dargah.
This case highlights ongoing debates about the historical status of religious sites in India, reflecting broader socio-political undercurrents.
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