Jaipur: A new legal claim has surfaced from a Hindu group stating that the Ajmer Dargah, a revered Islamic shrine, was originally a Hindu temple. The group has approached the Ajmer District Court to officially recognize the site as the Bhagwan Shri Sankatmochan Mahadev Virajman temple. The case, filed by Hindu Sena President Vishnu Gupta, is set to be heard on October 10.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the civil suit alleges that the Ajmer Dargah, the tomb of Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti in Rajasthan, stands over what was once a Shiva temple. The plaintiffs are requesting that the court order the removal of the Dargah committee, claiming their occupation of the site is unauthorized and illegal. Additionally, the suit seeks a directive for the Archaeological Survey of India to perform a survey to substantiate these claims.

The design of the roof at the main entrance gate of the Ajmer Dargah is cited in the suit as evidence of the site’s Hindu origins. Meanwhile, the head of Ajmer Sharif, Syed Naseeruddin Chishti, has expressed strong opposition to the claim. “We strongly condemn this act and will respond to it,” stated Chishti in response to the legal challenge.

This court case adds to the ongoing religious tensions in the region, reflecting broader national debates over the historical claims of religious sites.