Hindu outfit plans Ganga water offering at Deoband seminary over temple claim
NEW DELHI: The Hindu Raksha Dal has announced plans to visit Darul Uloom in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh, on Tuesday to offer Ganga water at the Islamic seminary, claiming that a Shivling exists beneath its premises. The group said it had earlier approached the Saharanpur administration seeking an inquiry into the matter but received no response.
In a video message released on Saturday, Lalit Sharma, Uttarakhand state president of the Hindu Raksha Dal, said members of the organisation, led by its national president Pinky Chaudhary, would travel from Haridwar to Deoband carrying Ganga water. The claim of a Shivling beneath the seminary has not been verified or confirmed by any official agency.
Police have issued a warning against any attempt to disturb public order. "Nobody will be permitted to disrupt law and order. Legal action will be taken against anyone who attempts to disturb the atmosphere," said Deoband Circle Officer Amit Kumar Singh, according to the Press Trust of India.
Darul Uloom Deoband, founded in 1866 in present-day Uttar Pradesh, is one of South Asia's most influential Islamic seminaries. It was established by scholars including Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanautawi and Maulana Rashid Muhammad Gangohi. The institution promotes the Deobandi tradition of Islamic scholarship, known for its orthodox interpretation of Islam and emphasis on religious education. Over the years, this tradition has spread through seminaries across India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other parts of South Asia.
The visiting plan comes amid a series of similar claims and demands across the country concerning religious sites. Authorities have urged all parties to maintain peace and adhere to legal processes.
