Business at Ajmer Dargah nosedives after hate speech by clerics: Report
Ajmer: The provocative statements made by the three khadims of Ajmer Dargah on expelled BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma have caused the business to fall by 90 percent and traders fear a loss of at least Rs 50 crores, according to media reports.
After videos of provocative statements made by clerics started making rounds on social media, the business has been affected.
From hotel rooms to puja items and flowers to famous Sohan Halwa all have been hit by the lack of footfall.
Fear has gripped the place after the brutal murder of tailor Kanhaiyalal in Udaipur, Riyaz Khan, owner of Jannat Group of Hotels, told India Today.
"The provocative statements made by the clerics had a negative impact on the people coming to Ajmer," he added.
Cleric Gauhar Chisti is a relative of two key accused in the Udaipur tailor murder case, Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghouse.
Dinesh Kumar Soni, a local vendor, was quoted by ANI as saying, "Provocative statements by clerics hit devotees' footfall to the Sufi shrine. Earlier, our sales were much higher than they are right now. All salesmen here are facing a recession of a kind. People are not coming out as they are scared." (sic)
The sale of 'sohan halwa' had dipped by a whopping 90 percent, said Shadab Siddiqui, owner of Sohan Halwa's famous sweet shop, Khwaja Garib Nawaz Sweets.
Meanwhile, police have arrested Salman Chisti, who had allegedly offered his house to anyone who would behead Nupur Sharma for her controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammad.
According to the report, Ajmer ASP Vikas Sangwan said that police have recovered several threatening videos from the mobile phone of the accused.
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