Ajmer Dargah case: 'The direction of the Places of Worship Act will be decided by the Centre's stand', the committee demanded the dismissal of the case.

In the context of the increasing cases of temple-mosque disputes in different parts of the country, the remarks of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat have intensified the political stir. After Bhagwat's remarks, all eyes are on the future stand of the Central Government on the Places of Worship Act 1991.

The apex court is considering the applications challenging this Act and the Center has to clarify its position before it. After Bhagwat's remarks, the Dargah Committee subordinate to the Central Government in the local court of Rajasthan requested to dismiss the case in the Ajmer Dargah vs Sankat Mochan Mahadev Temple dispute two days ago. However, the Dargah Committee, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the Ministry of Minority Affairs have also demanded to make themselves plaintiffs in this dispute. The big question is whether the Central Government will adopt the same stand as the Ajmer Dargah Committee in the Places of Worship Act case. Amidst the claim on Shahi Masjid in Ajmer and Sambhal, the RSS chief in Pune had said that some people think that by raising such temple-mosque disputes, they will become the leaders of Hindus. India became a nation due to its inclusive culture. In such a situation, unity does not mean eliminating diversity and establishing uniformity. Two years ago, Bhagwat had said in a training camp of Sangh officials that we do not need to look for Shivling behind every mosque. After this, he said in a program in Chhattisgarh that the DNA of Hindus and Muslims in the country is the same.

After Ayodhya, the Sangh wanted to limit its target to Kashi-Mathura, stir increased after Bhagwat's comment on the growing case of temple-mosque dispute.

The path of the government is not easy.

It is not so easy for the government to decide its stand in this matter. In this context, the Sangh has a stand, while on the other hand, dozens of cases with claims on mosques and tombs are pending in the court. If the government opposes this Act, then it will be considered different from the view of the Sangh in the light of the comment of the Sangh chief. If the government supports the Act, then the question will arise what will happen to disputes like Kashi and Mathura?

Ram-Krishna and Shiva's cultural identity If new cases arise, the dispute will only increase.

According to a senior official of the Sangh, our goal is cultural nationalism. Ram, Krishna, and Shiva are our cultural identity. A temple was built in Ayodhya. The matter of Kashi and Mathura is pending in the court. There is no need to go beyond this to achieve the goal of cultural nationalism. The way the temple-mosque dispute is being fuelled in every area is not right. This will raise the question of law and order and new disputes will arise.

RSS sources say that our fight is to establish the fact that the cultural representatives of this country are not the Mughals, the British, or any other invaders, but Lord Ram, Krishna, and Shiva. The reconstruction of the Somnath temple after independence was the first step taken in the direction of this identity. The construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya was the second step. As soon as the Kashi and Mathura dispute is resolved, our fight for cultural identity will end. Going beyond this will create illogical and unnecessary disputes.