– Raheem Khan
Jaisalmer: Former Rajasthan Cabinet Minister for Minority Affairs, Saleh Mohammad, has issued a powerful statement on the ongoing Ajmer Dargah controversy. Referring to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks urging people to stop searching for temples under every mosque and dargah, Saleh Mohammad emphasised that Bhagwat should ensure his followers adhere to this advice. He urged Bhagwat to send a clear message to prevent actions that could disrupt the peace and harmony of Rajasthan and the country.
Mohammad criticised the trend of presenting questionable claims about the existence of temples beneath religious sites, noting, “It is disheartening that members of certain organisations approach lower courts with false evidence, claiming temples existed at these locations. The law of the land clearly states that religious places will remain as they were post-1947. Courts must critically assess the validity of such claims to uphold justice and peace.”
On the use of divisive rhetoric, he stated, “Provocative statements designed to divide society may help secure political power but will never bring lasting peace. Such strategies threaten to undermine the country’s unity.”
Mohammad appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take firm action against those fomenting discord, urging swift measures to safeguard the nation’s social fabric.
He also condemned attempts to politicise the Ajmer Dargah, a revered site that symbolises India’s Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, known for its communal harmony and unity. “The ongoing efforts to mislead people about the Dargah Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, a centre of faith for millions of followers of various religions, are both misleading and condemnable. Such actions threaten to distort history and harm the country’s shared cultural heritage,” he said.
Highlighting the 1991 Religious Places Act, he reminded both central and state governments of their duty to protect religious sites, ensuring that they remain untouched by controversy.
