Syed Naseeruddin Chishti, chairman of the All India Sufi Sajjadanshin Council and the successor of the spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah, condemned a recent plea in a Rajasthan court by a Hindu group claiming that the Ajmer Sharif Dargah was built on a temple dedicated to Mahadev. The petition seeks to declare that “Bhagwan Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman” is the rightful owner of the property where the Dargah is located.
Chishti expressed strong disapproval of this claim, stating, “We strongly condemn this act and will respond to it. These people are pointing fingers at holy religious places for cheap popularity, which is unfortunate!” He said that throughout history, from the Mughal era to the Rajput and Maratha periods, the Dargah has been treated with respect by all.
He said, “Many great personalities of Sanatan Dharma have also expressed their views with great respect regarding this Dargah. The entire history cannot be erased based on just one book published in 1911.” Chishti highlighted that the Ajmer Dargah serves as a center of faith for Muslims and people of all religions, promoting a message of peace and representing the cultural harmony of India.
Chishti criticized the Hindu Sena, which filed the suit, stating that it reflects the growing religious fanaticism in the country. He called for the government to issue guidelines to address such issues. He also referenced a previous statement by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who questioned the need to find temples in every mosque, saying, “I completely agree with his statement.”
The lawsuit was filed by Vishnu Gupta, the national president of Hindu Sena, demanding the removal of the Dargah, which he alleges is built over a Mahadeva Linga. The petition also seeks to reconstruct the Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Temple at that site.