Nashik, May 19 (). Giving a new twist to the ongoing controversy at Nashik’s Yambakeshwar temple, a mahant on Friday claimed that a Hindu temple exists under a prominent dargah (mausoleum) near the Yambakeshwar temple.
Mahant Aniket Shastri, leader of Akhil Bhartiya Sant Samiti (Maharashtra), has argued that the dargah of Hazrat Peer Syed Gulab Shahwali Baba is actually built over a cave belonging to the Nath sect of Baba Gorakhnath.
There are many Hindu idols including Lord Ganesha, other deities and symbols, Mahant Shastri told media persons. We demand that the Archaeological Survey of India should conduct a proper survey here and bring out the truth.
Claiming to have received this information from historians, he indicated that the dargah, revered by people of all communities, was allegedly built by demolishing an older temple of the Nath sect.
Mahant Shastri on Thursday called for recitation of Hanuman Chalisa in mosques in lieu of the age-old practice of offering incense at Yambakeshwar temple during the annual Urs at the dargah.
A government-appointed SIT on Friday reached the Yambakeshwar temple to probe the matter, which came into limelight on May 13 following alleged clashes at the shrine. The SIT will also meet the officials of the dargah.
Meanwhile, in Mumbai, a delegation led by state Congress president Nana Patole met Additional Director General of Police Sanjay Saxena and discussed the Yambakeshwar temple and the recent communal clashes in different parts of the state.
Patole wanted to know from him why the police were not registering FIRs or taking any action against political leaders making hate statements, as recently directed by the Supreme Court – especially the ruling Indian against the leaders of the Janata Party.
In the last one week, there have been communal riots in Akola, Ahmednagar and then Nashik for different reasons. However, the local people and the police in Yambakeshwar have denied that any violence or clashes allegedly took place there on May 13-14. Since then the situation in the city has remained normal.
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