Latest news with #AjmerDargah
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Ajmer Dargah's 'no liability' notice draws flak from Muslim groups
Ajmer dargah AJMER: A public notice issued by the nazim (chief executive officer) of Ajmer Dargah disowning responsibility for accidents caused by dilapidated structures within the shrine complex, has triggered widespread anger among Muslim organisations and the community's religious heads. The notice, dated July 21, was pasted inside Dargah premises, warning devotees to avoid old or structurally weak buildings that may collapse during heavy rains. It stated, "In case of any accident or untoward incident, the individual will be solely responsible. The nazim office will not accept any legal liability." The language and tone of the notice have been condemned by organisations from Delhi to Hyderabad, including the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, All India Muslim Council and the Muslim Progressive Front (Rajasthan). Several groups have demanded an immediate withdrawal of the notice and called on the ministry of minority affairs to launch an inquiry into the matter. TOI texted and called Nazim Bilal Khan for a statement, but received no response. The Ajmer Dargah Committee functions under the ministry of minority affairs and the episode has renewed calls for greater accountability, transparency and professional oversight in the management of India's major religious heritage sites. Sohail Khandwani, managing trustee of Haji Ali and Mahim Dargah in Mumbai, who is currently overseeing renovation work at Haji Ali, expressed dismay: "I came across the letter. I was shocked to learn that the nazim hasn't even identified which buildings are structurally unsafe, nor have any warning signs been placed. Simply issuing a letter will spark fear among devotees." The Dargah receives 20,000 devotees on normal days, which jumps up to a lakh on Thursdays and Fridays. Syed Nadeem Hasan Nizami, chief in-charge of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah in Delhi, called the notice a "hallmark of shamelessness and administrative negligence." He said, "Asking devotees to survey the complex, identify weak structures and then decide whether to proceed with ziyarat (visit the shrine) is absurd. What exactly is the Dargah nazim's role then? He should resign. I appeal to PM Narendra Modi to appoint qualified professionals with experience in management, auditing and public safety. " The notice follows incidents of roof collapse and water seepage in at least three mosques within the Dargah complex in the past week.
Hans India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Final hearing in Ajmer Dargah dispute today
The final hearing in the high-profile Ajmer Dargah dispute case will take place in the Ajmer Civil Court on Saturday, with both sides scheduled to present their concluding responses. The court is expected to deliberate on the maintainability of the petition filed by Hindu Sena National President Vishnu Gupta, who claims that the revered Sufi shrine was built over a demolished Hindu temple. During the last hearing held on May 31, the court indicated it would decide whether Gupta's petition is legally sustainable. Prior to that, Gupta had submitted a stay application requesting that all government departments be barred from offering chadar at the Dargah. In response, the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) filed their replies before the court. The case stems from a petition filed by Gupta, asserting that the Ajmer Dargah occupies the original site of a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. In turn, the Dargah Committee filed a plea seeking the dismissal of the case. The Anjuman Committee, affiliated with the Dargah, has also moved the Rajasthan High Court on the matter. Gupta's argument rests on three main claims. He contends that the architectural style of the Buland Darwaza within the Dargah complex strongly resembles Hindu temple design, particularly its carvings and ornamentation. He also points to architectural remnants resembling temple structures seen in the domes and upper parts of the shrine. Gupta further claims that the site contains water features commonly associated with traditional Shiva temples, supporting his contention that the location was once the Sankat Mochan Mahadev Mandir. Gupta says he is prepared to submit in court a Sanskrit manuscript titled 'Prithviraj Vijay', dated to 1250 AD, along with its Hindi translation. He claims the text contains historical references to Ajmer's religious history. He has also cited arguments made by advocate Varun Kumar Sena in the Supreme Court, insisting that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act does not apply to the Ajmer Dargah, as it is a religious site and not covered under the Act's purview. Security for Gupta has been provided on the instructions of Superintendent of Police Vandita Rana, following a formal request from the petitioner. The petition was accepted by the Ajmer Civil Court on November 27, 2024. Subsequently, the court issued notices to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Dargah Committee, and the ASI. Several others have moved applications seeking to be included as parties in the proceedings, including the Anjuman Committee, Dargah Diwan Ghulam Dastagir (Ajmer), A. Imran from Bengaluru, and Raj Jain from Hoshiarpur, Punjab. Gupta also referenced the 1911 publication Ajmer: Historical and Descriptive, authored by retired judge Harbilas Sarda, which allegedly mentions that debris from a Hindu temple was used during the construction of the Dargah. The petition additionally suggests that a Jain temple may have once stood in the sanctum sanctorum of the site.
Times of Oman
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
"Dalai Lama has full right to declare his successor": Ajmer Dargah head Hazrat Dewan Syed Zainul Abedin
New Delhi : The spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah, Hazrat Dewan Syed Zainul Abedin Sahab, on Friday said that the Dalai Lama has the "full and unquestionable right" to declare his successor, according to an official release issued on the occasion of the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. On the auspicious occasion, Hazrat Dewan Syed Zainul Abedin Sahab extended heartfelt greetings and conveyed his blessings for the long life and continued good health of the revered Tibetan spiritual leader. As per the release, Hazrat Dewan Sahab said, "Dalai Lama is a purely religious and divine personality whose guidance has brought peace and spiritual strength to millions across the world. As a spiritual leader, he has the full and unquestionable right to declare his successor." Expressing deep concern over recent controversies surrounding the succession of the Dalai Lama, he emphasised that this is a matter of faith for millions of followers globally and must not be politicised. "China or any other political authority should refrain from interfering or diverting this purely religious matter for political interests," he added. The release further stated that the Ajmer Dargah head praised the Dalai Lama for his lifelong message of compassion, non-violence, and interfaith harmony, and called upon global religious and spiritual communities to support the Tibetan people's right to preserve their spiritual traditions. His remarks come in the backdrop of China's ongoing attempts to assert control over Tibetan Buddhist practices, particularly the reincarnation process of high-ranking lamas such as the Dalai Lama--a matter that the Ajmer Dargah head believes should remain purely spiritual and free from political interference. Over a lifetime in exile, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has become synonymous with Tibet and its quest for genuine autonomy under Beijing's tightening grip on the Himalayan region. From his adopted hometown of Dharamshala, where he established a government-in-exile, the spiritual leader has unified Tibetans at home and in exile and elevated their plight onto the global stage. Dalai Lama emphasized that the process will be guided by centuries-old religious traditions and in consultation with senior Tibetan Buddhist leaders and spiritual protectors and rejected China's claims of authority over the reincarnation process, stating that no one else has the right to interfere in this matter. In a statement on Wednesday, Dalai Lama stated, "The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognized has been clearly established in the 24 September 2011 statement which states that responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition." "I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter," he added. The Dalai Lama noted that he had not made any public statements on the issue over the past 14 years. However, leaders of Tibet's spiritual traditions have written to him with reasons, earnestly requesting that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue. "Although I have had no public discussions on this issue, over the last 14 years leaders of Tibet's spiritual traditions, members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, participants in a Special General Body Meeting, members of the Central Tibetan Administration, NGOs, Buddhists from the Himalayan region, Mongolia, Buddhist republics of the Russian Federation and Buddhists in Asia including mainland China, have written to me with reasons, earnestly requesting that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue. In particular, I have received messages through various channels from Tibetans in Tibet making the same appeal. In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue," he said.
India Gazette
04-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Dalai Lama has full right to declare his successor": Ajmer Dargah head Hazrat Dewan Syed Zainul Abedin
New Delhi [India], July 4 (ANI): The spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah, Hazrat Dewan Syed Zainul Abedin Sahab, on Friday said that the Dalai Lama has the 'full and unquestionable right' to declare his successor, according to an official release issued on the occasion of the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. On the auspicious occasion, Hazrat Dewan Syed Zainul Abedin Sahab extended heartfelt greetings and conveyed his blessings for the long life and continued good health of the revered Tibetan spiritual leader. As per the release, Hazrat Dewan Sahab said, 'Dalai Lama is a purely religious and divine personality whose guidance has brought peace and spiritual strength to millions across the world. As a spiritual leader, he has the full and unquestionable right to declare his successor.' Expressing deep concern over recent controversies surrounding the succession of the Dalai Lama, he emphasised that this is a matter of faith for millions of followers globally and must not be politicised. 'China or any other political authority should refrain from interfering or diverting this purely religious matter for political interests,' he added. The release further stated that the Ajmer Dargah head praised the Dalai Lama for his lifelong message of compassion, non-violence, and interfaith harmony, and called upon global religious and spiritual communities to support the Tibetan people's right to preserve their spiritual traditions. His remarks come in the backdrop of China's ongoing attempts to assert control over Tibetan Buddhist practices, particularly the reincarnation process of high-ranking lamas such as the Dalai Lama--a matter that the Ajmer Dargah head believes should remain purely spiritual and free from political interference. Over a lifetime in exile, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, has become synonymous with Tibet and its quest for genuine autonomy under Beijing's tightening grip on the Himalayan region. From his adopted hometown of Dharamshala, where he established a government-in-exile, the spiritual leader has unified Tibetans at home and in exile and elevated their plight onto the global stage. Dalai Lama emphasized that the process will be guided by centuries-old religious traditions and in consultation with senior Tibetan Buddhist leaders and spiritual protectors and rejected China's claims of authority over the reincarnation process, stating that no one else has the right to interfere in this matter. In a statement on Wednesday, Dalai Lama stated, 'The process by which a future Dalai Lama is to be recognized has been clearly established in the 24 September 2011 statement which states that responsibility for doing so will rest exclusively with members of the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition.' 'I hereby reiterate that the Gaden Phodrang Trust has sole authority to recognise the future reincarnation; no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,' he added. The Dalai Lama noted that he had not made any public statements on the issue over the past 14 years. However, leaders of Tibet's spiritual traditions have written to him with reasons, earnestly requesting that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue. 'Although I have had no public discussions on this issue, over the last 14 years leaders of Tibet's spiritual traditions, members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, participants in a Special General Body Meeting, members of the Central Tibetan Administration, NGOs, Buddhists from the Himalayan region, Mongolia, Buddhist republics of the Russian Federation and Buddhists in Asia including mainland China, have written to me with reasons, earnestly requesting that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue. In particular, I have received messages through various channels from Tibetans in Tibet making the same appeal. In accordance with all these requests, I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,' he said. (ANI)
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Hindu bloc repeats Ajmer Dargah claim
Hindu bloc repeats Ajmer Dargah claim Hindu Sena national president Vishnu Gupta, who filed a civil suit in an Ajmer court in Nov 2024 claiming existence of a Shiva temple underneath the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, on Saturday submitted that the replies filed by the dargah committee and ASI dismissing any evidence of a temple at the site be rejected. In his rejoinder filed on his plea by respondents, Union ministry of minority affairs, dargah committee and ASI-Gupta reiterated his claim of a temple at the site and the right to worship there. He described the respondents' replies as hindering justice and untenable. The court adjourned the hearing to July 19. The ASI stated in its reply that it had no proof of any such temple.
