DO NOT DISTURB AJMER’S COMMUNAL HARMONY FOR CHEAP POPULARITY

People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Rajasthan

Press Release

The People’s Union for Civil Liberties has condemned the misleading claims and propaganda against the Ajmer Dargah and has called for adherence to the laws established regarding religious places.

In its statement, PUCL said that Ajmer is a city of communal harmony, home to globally significant religious sites such as the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, the Brahma Temple, Jain pilgrim centers, churches, and Parsi temples. The Dargah has existed for 800 years of the city’s 1,200-year history. The Dargah has long been a place of faith for people of all religions, attracting millions of devotees over the centuries. The Dargah’s development owes contributions not only to Muslim rulers but also to Hindu kings.

It is unfortunate that a person, unfamiliar with Ajmer’s history, traditions, and harmony, is attempting to gain cheap popularity by claiming that a temple exists beneath the Dargah. This baseless claim has sadly been entertained by the judiciary. No such claims have ever been made in Ajmer. The Dargah exemplifies communal harmony, with Jain processions, Jhulelal processions, and even RSS path marches receiving flower showers as they pass by the site.

PUCL said that the Places of Worship Act, 1991 clearly prohibits altering the religious character of any place of worship. Section 4 of the Act mandates that “the religious character of a place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947, shall be maintained.” In the case of M. Siddiq (Ram Janmabhoomi Temple) vs. Suresh Das (2019), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of this Act, emphasizing its role in preserving communal harmony and protecting India’s pluralistic heritage. The Court further stated that the Act reflects the secular fabric of the Constitution and prevents misuse of historical claims for political or religious gains.

The management of the Ajmer Dargah is governed by the Dargah Khwaja Saheb Act, 1955, enacted by the Government of India, which explicitly designates the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti as a Muslim religious site. Therefore, claims that the Dargah is a temple are in direct violation of Indian law.

PUCL asserts that it is the government’s responsibility to instil a sense of security among minority communities and safeguard the secular character of the nation. Both the central and state governments should take Suo moto action against those spreading such baseless claims that foster unrest in society. PUCL has also urged the Supreme Court to direct lower courts not to entertain claims that contravene the provisions of the 1991 Act.

Kavita Srivastava (National President)

Bhanwar Meghwanshi (President, PUCL, Rajasthan)

Anant Meghwanshi (General Secretary, PUCL, Rajasthan

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