Jaisalmer: Shale Mohammad, the only Muslim face in Ashok Gehlot’s cabinet performed puja at a Shiva temple in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer. Recently he took charge of the minority affairs department. Mohammad’s father Gazi Fakir is a Muslim religious leader.
Mohammed reached his constituency Pokhran in Jaisalmer on Sunday for the first time after becoming a minister and offered prayer at a temple.
India Today has quoted him as saying, “Gods and goddesses don’t belong to any caste. It is not about Hindus and Muslims. Everyone has his faith. We have Ganga-Jamuni brotherhood which is in itself an example. Hindus and Muslims both have strong faith in Baba Ramdev (a temple in Ramdevra of local deity Baba Ramdev).” Shale told that he visited the temple due to his personal belief.
Madhu Changani, the priest of the temple, said it was not the first time the minister performed puja there, he has a long association with the shrine. He had also visited this temple during state assembly election, said the priest.
Following Hindu rituals, the minister is said to have performed puja for about half-an-hour. According to the priest, after performing ablution the minister offered honey and milk on Lord Shiva’s idol.