In a bid to woo the Muslim electorate in Rajasthan, the BJP has directed its community leaders to galvanise the community members for the Suraj rally to be addressed by Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on September 10 in Jaipur. The minority cell of the party is planning to invite Mr Modi to pay obeisance at the dargah of sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer.
A group of Khadims [caretakers at the dargah] affiliated to the BJP have been active to mobilise Muslims for the rally. The rally will be addressed by several leaders, including former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and BJP president Rajnath Singh but being head of the party’s national poll campaign committee, Mr Modi will be the star of the show.
“There is lot of enthusiasm in the community over the rally, if we get a chance, we will invite Modi to visit the dargah and offer prayers, says BJP s minority morcha’s national executive member and Khadim Syed Ibrahim Fakhar. “This holy shrine is not reserved for any community but people from all walks of life and faith, irrespective of their caste, creed and belief, visit the dargah, said Fakhar.
Asked if there was any resentment against Mr Modi, he said the dargah was open for all and no one can object to a visit by a zayreen (devotee).
Ajmer has a strong community of Khadims, the caretakers who help the devotees to perform prayers.
Anjuman, the body representing the Khadim community, kept itself away from Modi.
“There are a handful of Khadims associated with the BJP, but we have two Anjumans, none of them is interested in it, says Syed Waheed Hussain Angara.
‘In the past, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani had visited the dargah. Vajpayee is secular leader but Modi is different from them, he said.
Dargah Diwan Syed Zainual Abedin Ali Khan’s office said there could be some individuals inviting Modi. Sources close to the Diwan said he is yet to take a stand on the issue.
Abedin is described as hereditary Sajjadanashin [spiritual head] of the tomb.