New Delhi

Diwan Syed Zainul Abedin, Ajmer Dargah Chief, has advocated talks between Hindus and Muslims to find an amicable settlement outside the court over the ownership of the Mathura and Kashi temples. He said the Sufis would initiate the dialogue across India on these disputes which are likely to throw up more tension in the coming months and years.

Syed Zainul Abedin is a descendant of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty and head of Ajmer Dargah. He said disputes resolved by mutual consent not only help resolution of a contentious issue but also ignite love and mutual respect.

He said this while addressing “Paigam-e-Mohabbat Hum Sab Ka Bharat” conference organized by the Rajasthan unit of All India Sufi Sajjadanshin Council (AISSC) in which heads of all the Dargahs of Rajasthan were present.

​He wondered when the world is looking at India to resolve global disputes in the spirit of the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutambakam, it’s an irony that at home we are not using the same to address our conflicts.

He said an amicable resolution of the Kash and Mathura is possible but we “need a strong initiative”

On the Court verdict on Ram Janambhoomi, he said the Court’s verdict had settled the longstanding dispute that saw generations of Hindus and Muslims suffer in conflict. He said it is also heartening to see that people respected the decision of the court.

 However, he said, “Court verdicts throw up a winner and a loser, and though it settles a dispute it leaves bitterness in the minds of those who lose. “Therefore, I believe that people of both religions should try to find solutions to disputes like Mathura-Kashi outside the courts,” he said.

He said that though every Muslim believes in the law of reconciliation perhaps every organization is in a dilemma as to who should initiate it. “No one wants to be bad in front of society but someone has to take the initiative.,” he said.

He appealed to the gathering to find a solution to the disputes like Mathura and Kashi. He announced that he had appointed Syed Naseeruddin Chishthy emissary of the AISSC and asked him to travel to all the states to popularize the idea of the court settlement on contentious issues.

“As the Sajjadanshin of Ajmer Dargah and a descendant of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz, I appeal to all the organizations of Hindu and Muslim society to jointly try to find a solution to the issues like Kashi and Mathura outside the courts in this religious and highly sensitive area. Both Hindu and Muslim sides of the issue should find a respectful solution and contribute to the progress of this country by ending religious disputes in India forever.

“Let us all come together with positive thinking with the intention of reconciliation and find a peaceful and respectable solution. At least try to find out. For how long will we people of both religions remain entangled in these religious disputes among ourselves? Our country has seen these religious disputes for more than seven decades.

“Our two-three generations have grown old but not our future ones. To ensure that generations stay away from such disputes, we need to put a complete end to religious disputes in this country end every dispute that hinders the development of the country, and give our future generations a strong country, a great India full of love.”

Speaking on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Dargah chief also said in the last few years, Muslims have been misled and intimidated that an attempt is being made to snatch the citizenship of Indian Muslims through the CAA law, whereas the reality is different.

"After a detailed analysis of the provisions of the Act, we found that the law has nothing to do with Indian Muslims and that the law will not affect them, but rather the oppressed and persecuted minority immigrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

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“It will benefit those who want Indian citizenship. This is not to take away the Indian citizenship of anyone. The citizenship of any Indian cannot be taken away because there is no such provision in the law.

He declared: “I promise the Muslims of this country that if anyone's citizenship is taken away under this law, I will be the first to raise my voice against this law.”