Srinagar: The Peoples Democratic Party President, Mehbooba Mufti, criticized a legal claim in a Rajasthan court alleging that the Ajmer dargah was constructed over a Hindu temple, cautioning that such “targeting” of mosques and shrines could lead to “further bloodshed.”

According to Kashmir Media Service, Mufti expressed her concerns in a post on X, highlighting the contentious discussions around minority religious sites. She attributed these tensions to a former Chief Justice of India’s judgment, which she argued has led to increased scrutiny of these sites, despite a Supreme Court ruling to maintain the status quo as it existed in 1947. The ruling opened up possibilities for surveys that could heighten tensions between Hindus and Muslims.

Mufti referenced an order by a bench led by then Chief Justice DY Chandrachud permitting the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque. The survey aimed to investigate if the 17th-century mosque was built over a pre-existing temple, with the stipulation that no invasive methods be used.

She also linked the recent violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, to this judgment, emphasizing that the targeting of Muslim shrines, such as Ajmer Sharif, could escalate into further conflict. Mufti questioned who would bear responsibility for what she described as communal violence reminiscent of the partition era.