File photo of Narendra Modi
The BJP's minority cell in Maharashtra gathered on Tuesday at the Mahim Dargah in Mumbai and offered prayers for the NDA's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on his 63rd birthday. Around 50 Muslims, largely all men with BJP flags and Modi-masks, offered the traditional chaddar at the shrine of Islamic scholar Makhdoom Ali Mahimi and said they prayed for a long life for Mr Modi, and for him to become India's next prime minister.
Leading them was Mr Ashish Shelar, the president of the BJP's Mumbai unit, who firmly denied this was a public relations exercise or a political stunt. "This is not PR, this is ER. Emotional relationship. Emotional relationship with Narendra Modi. We don't want to appease Muslims but we want to develop a relationship with them and members of all other religions," Mr Shelar reiterated.
"Muslims really want Mr Modi to lead the country. We have seen the Congress and Muslims want to give Modi a chance. This is our true feeling and people have gathered here by themselves because of the love for Narendra Modi," Mr Haji Hyder Azam, president of the BJP's minority cell said after distributing food for the poor as is the tradition at the dargah.
It was unclear if those present included Muslims who are not affiliated to the BJP. Mr Azam claimed that there were many who were from "madrassas" and even "maulanas" who had joined the prayer meeting.