Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently presented a ceremonial chadar to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, intended for offering at the revered Ajmer Sharif Dargah in Rajasthan. This symbolic gesture, often aimed at promoting communal harmony, drew sharp criticism from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
In a public statement, Owaisi expressed his dissatisfaction with what he described as a paradoxical stance by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its affiliates. Highlighting ongoing legal disputes concerning religious sites, he accused the BJP and associated organizations of fueling communal tensions by challenging the historical status of mosques and dargahs across the country.
Owaisi stated, “BJP, Sangh Parivar, and their organizations across the country are approaching courts, demanding excavations at various sites, questioning whether this is a mosque or that is a dargah. If the Prime Minister wants, all of this can be stopped. For the last ten years, the BJP has been in power, and Narendra Modi has been the Prime Minister. Yet, more than seven mosques and dargahs in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP is in power and where the Prime Minister is an MP, have faced such challenges.”
The AIMIM chief argued that symbolic gestures like offering a chadar would not address the underlying issues. Instead, he called on the Prime Minister to take decisive action to curb such disputes and ensure the protection of religious sites, especially in BJP-governed states.
The offering of a chadar at Ajmer Sharif Dargah, dedicated to Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, is a tradition upheld by Indian leaders from diverse political and religious backgrounds. It is seen as an act of reverence and an acknowledgment of India’s pluralistic heritage.
However, Owaisi’s remarks underline the ongoing political and religious tensions in the country. The AIMIM leader’s criticism reflects concerns about the broader implications of disputes over religious structures and their potential to disrupt communal harmony.
As the debate continues, questions arise about the balance between symbolic actions and substantive policies in addressing India’s complex socio-religious landscape.
