At Charari Sharief, cleric prays for BJP’s success

Srinagar, Apr 5: In contrast to the BJP’s ‘anti-Muslim’ image, a cleric in Charari Sharief shrine in Budgam was seen pleading for the success of the right-wing party in an animated prayer, a video of which was shared by Sheikh Khalid Jehangir, the party’s candidate for Srinagar Lok Sabha Constituency.
Khalid visited the shrine of the highly revered 14th century Muslim Saint, Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA), also known as Alamdar-e-Kashmir, on Wednesday afternoon.
He soon went live on Facebook when a cleric was supplicating for his success while hymning in front of the Saint’s mausoleum.
“Oh revered Saint, you rule the whole of Kashmir. This needy person has come to seek your blessings,” the cleric is seen addressing to the mausoleum.
He even holds out the hem of Khalid’s Kurta as a sign of him begging for benediction.
“Raise your hands,” he tells Khalid.
“Bestow on him (Khalid) the crown, oh Alamdar! The same way you bestowed it on Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad in 1953. May his fame touch heights, may his name touch heights…,” the cleric is seen saying in the video.
Bakshi was the Prime Minister of J&K from 1953 to 1964.
All the while the cleric is praying, Khalid and his associates are seen standing heads down and occasionally replying to the cleric’s prayers with ‘aameen’.
“You have chosen the right day. It is ahead of Shab-e-Miraj [the night of the Prophet’s (PBUH) journey to heavens]. May the Lord give you the seat of power,” the cleric tells Khalid in the end.
Later, Khalid also posted the photos of his visit to the shrine on his Facebook account along with the message: Paid obeisance at Charar-e-Sharief, considered to be one of the most sacrosanct Muslim shrines. Prayed for strengthen the bonds of amity, harmony and brotherhood among all communities and be a harbinger of peace and prosperity in the state. Have fear of Allah wherever you are (sic).”
On Twitter, he wrote: “Took blessings at the Sufi saint shrine NUND RISHI also known as Sheikh UL ALLAM, RA ! The shrine was burnt by a Pakistani Terrorist Mast Gul in 1995. Today the followers of the NUND RISHI has vowed to safeguard Kashmiriet. I am blessed(sic).”
Khalid is the BJP spokesperson for Kashmir and one of the few people in valley highly regarded by the party leadership in Delhi. The Srinagar parliamentary constituency he’s contesting from spreads over 15 segments in three Central Kashmir districts: Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal.