– Raheem Khan
Jaipur: The Joint Committee Tahafuz-e-Auqaf, at a press conference held at Muslim Musafirkhana on Moti Dungri Road, expressed deep concern over the rise in communal hate across the country, referencing recent incidents in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, and the spread of misinformation regarding the Ajmer Dargah.
Mohammad Nazimuddin, convener of the committee and state president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Rajasthan, addressed the gathering. He stated that communal organisations have increasingly sought to disrupt the nation’s harmony by targeting religious sites, filing baseless legal cases to claim mosques as temples, and conducting unwarranted surveys. He noted that similar attempts were made in the past, such as the controversial survey near the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, which aimed to provoke communal discord.
Nazimuddin also highlighted the introduction of Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, which he claimed seeks to interfere with Muslim waqf properties under a legal guise. He lamented the tragic loss of five innocent youths in Sambhal, who were killed while defending a mosque and protesting for their rights. He called the incident deeply saddening and indicative of a disturbing trend.
Referring to the recent petition filed in a lower court alleging the presence of a Shiva temple within the Ajmer Dargah, he criticised the court’s acceptance of the petition as unconstitutional and alarming. He cited the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which prohibits altering the religious status of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947. He argued that the petition, and the subsequent court order to conduct a survey of the dargah premises, not only violate this act but also pose a threat to communal harmony in Rajasthan and the nation.
Nazimuddin called the court’s actions premature and unconstitutional, stressing that such measures would foster animosity between communities and hinder the country’s progress. He urged the Supreme Court to intervene immediately to protect the Ajmer Dargah and other religious sites, maintaining the status quo and ensuring no further petitions of this nature are entertained. He also demanded the lower courts fully comply with the Places of Worship Act.
The committee called for a judicial inquiry into the Sambhal incident and demanded strict action against police officers responsible for the deaths of five youths. Additionally, the targeting of Nadeem Khan, human rights activist and general secretary of APCR, by the Delhi police was condemned as unjust and politically motivated. The committee called for an end to such actions.
The Committee urged the government to take decisive steps against individuals and organisations spreading communal hatred and religious extremism in the country. The press conference was also attended by Hafiz Manzoor Ali Khan, Vice President of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Rajasthan, and Dr. Shahabuddin Khan, State Vice President of SDPI.
