Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 29: Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, today expressed concern over recent court-ordered surveys of religious sites, saying that such actions deeply undermine the religious sentiments of millions of Muslims across India.
Addressing the Friday congregation at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid, Mirwaiz pointed to a pattern where doubts are first raised about religious sites, followed by court-ordered surveys, and ultimately leading to prioritizing claims by the majority community. He cited the killing of five Muslim youths during police firing at the 500-year-old Shahi Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, as an alarming example.
“While that matter is still ongoing, another court in Rajasthan’s Ajmer has ordered the survey of the iconic Ajmer Sharif Dargah, revered as the shrine of Hazrat Moinuddin Chisti. Before this, the Gyanvapi Mosque was also subjected to a court-mandated survey,” he said.
Hurriyat Chairman referred to the Babri Masjid demolition case, stating it remains fresh in the memory of Muslims, who fear similar outcomes in the current instances. “These developments are extremely disturbing, not just for Muslims in India and Kashmir but for the entire subcontinent and beyond,” he said. Highlighting the significance of Ajmer Sharif, he noted that the 800-year-old shrine holds deep cultural and spiritual importance for Muslims globally, especially for those in Kashmir, who regard visits to the site as a sacred pilgrimage.
Mirwaiz accused the judiciary and government of enabling such actions, which he said contradict the secular ethos outlined in India’s constitution. “If India is a secular state governed by its constitution, including the Places of Worship Act, why are such issues continuously entertained?” he asked.
He also raised concerns over amendments to the Waqf Act, stating that this has left Muslims in Jammu & Kashmir and the rest of India worried. The Mirwaiz warned that continued provocations against Muslim religious sites could lead to widespread backlash, holding authorities responsible for any such fallout.
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