Hyderabad, February 25, 2026 – In a dramatic turn that has set Telangana's interfaith landscape on edge, the historic Dargah Hazrat Tajuddin Khaja Bagh Sawar – a 400-year-old (some say 800-year-old) Sufi shrine nestled inside the world-famous Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple in Vemulawada – has reportedly been demolished. Graves shifted, structure razed, and the site cleared as part of the massive temple expansion project.

What began as a celebrated "victory for Hindu unity" back in October 2025 has exploded into fresh controversy just days ago. Temple authorities and state officials moved swiftly in the early hours, sealing off sections with tin sheets and heavy police presence, citing the ongoing ₹695-crore redevelopment plan to build better queue complexes, mandapas, and pilgrim facilities for the millions who flock to this "Dakshina Kashi" every year.

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But the move has ignited fierce backlash from Muslim organizations:

  • Movement for Peace and Justice (MPJ) staged protests in Karimnagar on February 24, demanding immediate reconstruction of the dargah at its original spot inside the temple premises. They accused "unconstitutional forces" of engineering communal division and filed a representation with the SP seeking legal action against those responsible.
  • Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) slammed the demolition as "illegal and condemnable," pointing fingers at local Congress MLA & Government Whip Adi Srinivas for allegedly pressuring a "development committee" of some Muslims to give consent – a move they call against Islamic principles. MBT delegations met the Telangana State Waqf Board Chairman and Minorities Commission Chairperson on February 23–24, submitting memorandums and warning that such actions hurt minority sentiments deeply.
  • AIMIM echoed the outrage on social media, highlighting that no mutawalli can alienate Waqf land without proper approval. They noted the Waqf Board's CEO had already lodged a criminal complaint against the mutawalli involved, but local police are refusing to register an FIR. A Waqf Board task force was even denied entry to the site on Monday amid the chaos.

The Waqf Board had warned as far back as October 17, 2025, that only they hold authority over any relocation – yet reports now confirm graves were moved and a "new" makeshift dargah allegedly appeared 400 meters away.

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Meanwhile, temple devotees continue to pour in (over 75,000 on peak days despite restrictions), with LED screens beaming darshan during the works. Officials insist the project will enhance facilities for lakhs of pilgrims, especially ahead of festivals.

No official statement has come from the Revanth Reddy government clarifying the exact legal basis for the demolition or addressing the Waqf objections. Silence from the top has only fueled speculation, social media storms, and fears of rising tensions in this otherwise harmonious spiritual hub.

Is this a necessary modernization for one of Telangana's holiest sites… or a dangerous precedent that erodes centuries of shared sacred space?

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Stay tuned – Hindutone is on the ground tracking every twist in this unfolding saga. #Vemulawada #RajaRajeshwaraTemple #DargahDemolition #TelanganaNews #CommunalHarmony

What do YOU think – temple development at any cost, or protect shared heritage? Drop your views below!