Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Denounces Ajmer Cleric's Remarks on Jain Monks

Rajasthan Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani has issued a strong condemnation of comments made by Sarwar Chishti, the secretary of Anjuman of Ajmer dargah, regarding the visit of Jain monks to Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra in Ajmer. The incident, which has sparked considerable controversy, involved a group of Jain monks, accompanied by leaders from the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), asserting that the monument, currently an ASI-protected mosque, was originally a Sanskrit school and prior to that, a Jain temple.

The monks, led by Sunil Sagar Maharaj, made their way to the monument from Fawara Circle via Dargah Bazaar on Tuesday. Following their visit, an audio message from Chishti emerged on social media where he expressed his objection to the Jain monks' visit without clothes to the monument, which also houses a mosque. Devnani responded sharply to Chishti's remarks, demanding an apology for what he described as an insult to the Sanatan culture and the Jain community.

Devnani criticized Chishti's comments as "extremely disgusting" and "unfortunate," reflecting a "distorted mentality." He announced plans to write to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) seeking clarity on the historical claims about Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra. He emphasized the Jain saints' practice of remaining clothless as a symbol of purity and their teachings of non-violence and devotion.

The Speaker also highlighted the significance of Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra in the collective memory of Ajmer's residents as a centre of education within Sanatan culture. He questioned how the site transitioned from a school to its current state, indicating that this transformation warrants further investigation.

According to the ASI's website, Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra is a mosque constructed by Qutub-ud-Din-Aibak in AD 1199, around the same time as the Quwal-ul-Islam mosque at the Qutub Minar complex in Delhi. The presence of numerous temple sculptures within the complex suggests the existence of a Hindu temple during the 11th-12th century AD. The mosque's name, translating to "the shed of two-and-a-half days," references a fair that was historically held at the site for that duration.

Devnani's call for an apology from Chishti underscores a broader debate on religious tolerance and historical interpretation in India. The controversy over Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra's origins reflects ongoing discussions about India's diverse cultural heritage and the importance of respecting all religious practices.