All set to welcome Musharraf at Ajmer

By Mohammed Iqbal

AJMER, JULY 15. The pilgrim town of Ajmer is all set to accord a rousing welcome to the Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf, who arrives here tomorrow afternoon to pay homage at the historic Dargah of the 13th century Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, in the last leg of his three-day visit to India.

An unprecedented security cover has been thrown around the Ghooghra helipad on the outskirts of the city where the President, his wife, Mrs. Sehba Musharraf, and the delegation accompanying them will be landing in four Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters from Jaipur - as well as along the 10-kilometre long road leading to the monument inside the city.

Hundreds of policemen, drawn from the neighbouring districts, have taken position in every nook and corner of the city to prevent any untoward incident. The elite National Security Guard (NSG) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) contingents have joined the local police to strengthen the security net.

The Circuit House where the President will be stopping over briefly on his way back from the Dargah to the helipad has been converted into a fortress with the security agencies taking it over. The district administration has given a face-lift to the sprawling building overlooking the Ana Sagar lake and converted its two rooms into VVIP suites at an expenditure of Rs. 30 lakhs.

In addition to the roads leading to the Dargah Bazaar having been spruced up and barricaded, the entire Dargah area has been cleared of ``unwanted'' elements. The ubiquitous beggars were driven away during the past couple of days and the area was cleaned up.

Sources in the district administration told ``The Hindu'' that the Dargah complex and the market in front of its entrance, Nizam Gate, would be cordoned off at least two hours before the Pakistani leader and his entourage arrive. Armed securitymen will be positioned at all high-rise buildings and atop the Taragarh hill adjacent to the shrine.

A full dress rehearsal of the General's drive from Ghooghra helipad to the Dargah and back was held today. It started at 4.15 p.m. and ended at 5.45 p.m., coinciding with tomorrow's schedule of the President's arrival and departure. It was inspected by the Principal Secretary, Home, Mr. R. K. Nayar.

The Director General of Police (DGP), Mr. Shantanu Kumar, reached Ajmer today to check the security arrangements. In addition to the police personnel drawn from Pali, Bhilwara, Chittaurgarh and Alwar districts, intelligence officials from the State Capital have been pressed into service.

Though the administration hopes for a clear sky when Gen. Musharraf and his wife perform ziarat (pilgrimage), emergency arrangements have been made if it rains tomorrow. The route fixed for the first couple of Pakistan inside the Dargah complex has been covered with tents. If there is heavy rain, they may have to spend some more time at the Circuit House. The district administration - under instructions from the Union External Affairs Ministry - has decided to allow only a few representatives of the electronic media and news agencies inside the Dargah apparently in view of the limited space. No print media journalist will be allowed either inside the Dargah complex or at the Ghooghra helipad.

The unseemly wrangling between Khadims (custodians) of the shrine and the Dargah Dewan, Syed Zainul Abedin, over welcoming Gen. Musharraf has been resolved on the eve of his visit with the Khadims agreeing that the Dewan would accompany the dignitary inside the mausoleum. The Khadims had earlier taken objection to the Dewan going inside the tomb saying it was their prerogative to perform the ziarat rituals for Gen. Musharraf.

Yet another controversy about the proposed presentation of two Chadars (sheets of cloth) to the Pakistan President to be draped on two tombs in his country has been put to rest. The Dargah Committee, appointed by the Central Government under the Dargah Khwaja Sahib Act, had earlier contended that the Tosha Khana (treasury) was under its control and no property from it could be taken away without its permission.

``There is no dispute about that now since the Chadars are being given for the Dargahs of two great saints - Data Ganj Baksh and Fariduddin Ganj Shakkar - buried in Pakistan,'' the Dargah Nazim, Mr. Shakil Ahmed, who represents the Dargah Committee, said.

He said the rose petals, cardamom seeds and sweetmeat would form part of the tabarrukh (sacred material) to be presented to Gen. Musharraf and his wife after their ziarat. The military ruler's ``dastarbandi'' will be performed by tying a piece of cloth on his head while a ``dupatta'' will be placed on the head of the First Lady of Pakistan.

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