Targeting of mosques, shrines can lead to further bloodshed: Mehbooba

IIOJK: The Peoples Democratic Party President, Mehbooba Mufti, has flayed a plea in a Rajasthan court claiming that the Ajmer dargah was built over a Hindu temple, saying “targeting” of mosques and shrines can lead to “further bloodshed”.

Mehbooba Mufti in a post on X said, “Thanks to a former Chief Justice of India a Pandora’s box has been opened sparking a contentious debate about minority religious places. Despite a Supreme Court ruling that the status quo should be maintained as it existed in 1947, his judgement has paved the way for surveys of these sites potentially leading to increased tension between Hindus and Muslims.”

She was apparently referring to an order by a bench led by then CJI DY Chandrachud allowing the ASI to conduct a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque to determine if the 17th century structure was built upon a pre-existing temple. However, the court had asked the ASI not to take recourse to any invasive act during the survey.

She claimed the recent violence in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh is the direct result of this judgment.

“First mosques and now Muslim shrines like Ajmer Sharif are being targeted which can result in further bloodshed. The question remains – who will take responsibility for perpetuating this communal violence reminiscent of the partition days?” she added.