Writer and historian Sanjay Sonawani has conjectured that the Punyeshwar and Narayaneshwar temples in Pune did not exist on the land when the dargahs were built.
Following claims by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) claims that the Punyeshwar and Narayaneshwar temples in Pune were demolished to make way for dargahs, writer and historian Sanjay Sonawani has conjectured that there were no temples on the land when the Kwaaja Sheikh Sallauddin Shrine was built in the 14th century.
Speaking to India Today, Sonawani said it was around 1328 that Sheikh Saluddin Gazi Chisty, a Sufi saint, came to Devagiri along with the invader Allauddin Khilji. At that time, Khilji had already established the Delhi sultanate.
Alauddin Khilji had invaded Ramdevrai’s kingdom in Devagiri area around the year 1290, he had signed a treaty signed with Ramdevrai of Devagiri. But Bhillam, the son of Ramdevrai, decided to rebel a few years later. Consequently, Alauddin Khilji sent Malik Kaffur to Devagiri to once again to invade the Yadav Kingdom. This time, Sufi saint Sheikh Saluddin Gazi Chisty came to Devagiri, and later to Pune, with Arab Sadar, the commander of Kaffur.
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