Nashik: In a development that has further fuelled an already tense situation, Mahant Aniket Shastri, the leader of Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti (Maharashtra), has demanded the recital of Hanuman Chalisa in mosques, besides claiming the existence of a Hindu temple beneath a prominent Dargah near the Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nashik.
Mahant Shastri's demand for the recital of Hanuman Chalisa in mosques has added a new dimension to the ongoing tensions between communities. The call is seen as a response to the practice of showing incense at the Trimbakeshwar Temple during the annual Urs at the Dargah.
His controversial statement has sparked heated debates and drawn mixed reactions from various quarters.
Furthermore, Mahant Shastri has alleged that the Hazrat Pir Syed Gulab Shahwali Baba Dargah is actually built on a cave belonging to the Nath Sect of Baba Goraknath, housing several Hindu idols, including Lord Ganesha, and other deities.
According to him, historians have provided information suggesting that the dargah was constructed after demolishing an ancient temple of the Nath Sect. These claims have intensified the ongoing controversy and raised concerns among the local community.
As tensions escalate, a government-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrived at the Trimbakeshwar Temple to probe the matter. The SIT will not only investigate the alleged clashes that occurred on May 13 but also meet with Dargah officials to gather more information.
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, Nana Patole, the state Congress President, has expressed his concerns about the Trimbakeshwar Temple issue and the recent communal clashes in different parts of the state.
Patole led a delegation to meet with the Additional Director General of Police, Sanjay Saxena, demanding action against political leaders, particularly from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, who are alleged to have made hate speeches.
He also questioned the police's reluctance to register First Information Reports (FIRs) as directed by the Supreme Court.
The situation remains tense as communal clashes with communal undertones have occurred in Akola, Ahmednagar, and Nashik over the past week. However, the locals and police in Trimbakeshwar have denied the occurrence of any violence or clashes as alleged on May 13-14, emphasizing that the town has since returned to normalcy.
The controversy surrounding the claims made by Mahant Aniket Shastri continues to deepen, polarizing communities and prompting authorities to take swift and impartial action to investigate the matter thoroughly.
With IANS inputs