The Maharashtra State Minorities Commission has asked the Collector of Ahilyanagar district, formerly Ahmadnagar, to inquire into allegations that Hindu rituals were conducted last week at the disputed Hazrat Pir Baba Ramzan Dargah in Mauje Javkheda in Pathardi taluka. The Commission has asked for a report into the incident by the end of this week.
The directions were issued by Sarang Kumar Patil, secretary of the Commission after complaints from Wasim Burhan, a member of the Commission, and other members of the Muslim community that aarti and other rituals were held at the 150-year-old shrine. Hindus have claimed the site as a temple to Saint Kanhoba or Kanifnath.
On June 25, the Maharashtra State Waqf Tribunal at Aurangabad, now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, had issued a temporary injunction, restricting any change in the religious nature of the shrine. Adil Khan, chairman/district judge of the tribunal restrained rituals like puja, archana, arti, bhajan, kirtan, bhandara, prasad vatap, jaap, shankhnaad, or applying gulal and any colour to the structure of shrine. The tribunal also placed restrictions on installation of boards declaring the structure as a temple, or the removal of the holy cloth from the tomb. The Superintendent of Police, Ahliyanagar, was directed to implement the order and maintain the status quo.
Burhan said that maha aartis were organised even after directions to the police. “Hindus and Muslims live in the village and there was no dispute between the two communities over the shrine. Politicians from outside are creating a dispute,” said Burhan.
