Ajmer Dargah: 800 Years of History Tarnished by Baseless Temple Claims, Activists Condemn Popularity Stunts

Ajmer- The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has strongly condemned the recent wave of misleading claims and propaganda against the Ajmer Dargah, a site of immense religious and historical significance. In a strongly worded statement, PUCL called for strict adherence to the laws protecting religious sites and urged the judiciary to dismiss baseless claims that could harm the country’s secular fabric and communal harmony.

A joint statement issued by PUCL National Head Kavita Srivastava, Rajasthan President Bhanwar Meghwanshi and General Secretary Anant Bhatnagar, 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.

Recently, a controversial claim emerged alleging that a temple existed beneath the Ajmer Dargah. PUCL criticized this claim as baseless and driven by motives of "cheap popularity" by individuals unfamiliar with Ajmer’s rich history and traditions of communal harmony. PUCL highlighted that no such claims have ever been made in Ajmer's history and noted the unfortunate entertainment of such claims by the judiciary.

“The Ajmer Dargah has long exemplified communal harmony,” PUCL stated, pointing out how processions of different faiths—including Jain processions, Jhulelal processions, and even RSS marches—have been greeted with flower showers near the site.

Legal Provisions Protecting Religious Sites

PUCL drew attention to the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which explicitly prohibits altering the religious character of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947. Section 4 of the Act mandates the preservation of the religious character of such sites.

The organization also cited the Supreme Court’s landmark 2019 judgment in the M. Siddiq (Ram Janmabhoomi Temple) vs. Suresh Das case, where the Court upheld the Act’s constitutional validity. The judgment underscored the Act’s importance in maintaining India’s pluralistic heritage and preventing historical claims from being misused for political or religious gains.

PUCL further highlighted that the Dargah Khwaja Saheb Act, 1955, enacted by the Government of India, designates the Ajmer Dargah as a Muslim religious site. Any claims to the contrary, PUCL asserted, are not only historically inaccurate but also in direct violation of Indian law.

PUCL urged the government to take proactive measures to protect the secular character of the nation and ensure the security of minority communities. The organization called on both central and state governments to initiate suo moto action against individuals spreading baseless claims, which could disrupt communal harmony.

Additionally, PUCL appealed to the Supreme Court to direct lower courts not to entertain claims that contravene the provisions of the Places of Worship Act, 1991.

The Ajmer Dargah remains a sacred space of faith and unity for millions, a legacy PUCL believes must be protected to preserve India’s secular and inclusive spirit.