Advani rekindles Sufi memories

By Sunny Sebastin

JAIPUR, DEC. 3. It was the Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani's day out today in the holy city of Ajmer. After a gap of 30 years, he visited the world-famous `dargah' here to offer chaddar at the mazaar (mausoleum) of the Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. Earlier, he offered prayers at the Brahma temple at Pushkar.

Mr. Advani said it was his farz (duty) to pay a visit to the Dargah when he had come to Ajmer for the first time in three years after taking over as a Minister in Delhi. He emphasised on brotherhood and the universality of all religions. ``For achieving Ishwar and Allah, to reach God, adopt whatever routes you feel proper. This is what the people of Hindustan believe.'' He recalled his origins in Karachi where Sufi traditions are still strong.

The crowd of khadims (religious men serving at the Dargah) and curious pilgrims present on the ``chatti'' (sixth day of the Ramzan moon) were receptive to the gesture of the man, whose party is widely perceived to be responsible for the felling of Babri Masjid in December 1992. All along the narrow bylanes leading to the Dargah's Delhi Gate, there were arches welcoming Mr. Advani, put up by the Anjuman Committee, which governs the mausoleum. ``The message will go throughout the subcontinent. The BJP is not leading a jehad (holy war) against Islam. We are not a Hindu religious party as is being projected by some,'' observed the former BJP MP, Mr. Onkar Singh Lakhawat, while waiting at the main entrance to the Dargah.

``We have not forgotten what he (Mr. Advani) did in 1992,'' observed Mr. S.F. Hassan Chisti, a local. ``We welcome the change of mind. This could be a beginning,'' said Mr. Syed Ibrahim Fakkar, joint-secretary, Anjuman Committee.

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