Court Notice on Ajmer Dargah Plea Triggers Political, Theological Controversy

• A civil court in Ajmer issued notices on a suit claiming a Lord Shiva temple exists at the 13th Century dargah of Sufi mystic Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

• Political and religious leaders across India reacted sharply to the issue.

• There were conflicting views on the attempts to redefine the religious character of the historic shrine.

• Civil Judge Manmohan Chandel issued notices to the Dargah Committee, the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on the plea seeking to declare the dargah a temple.

• Plaintiff Vishnu Gupta has sought a survey through the ASI and the grant of right to Hindus to worship at the shrine.

• The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders argued that the controversy was being created over a judicial process with the intention to promote the “politics of appeasement”.

• The civil suit seeking directions to start Hindu rituals at the dargah was filed in September and the next hearing is scheduled on December 20.