PM Modi pitches for communal harmony, sends 'chadar' to be offered at Ajmer Sharif

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday pitched for harmony among all religions, citing the "great message" of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti as he sent a 'chaadar' to be offered at his dargah in Ajmer.

Greeting people on the occasion of the annual 'Urs' of Khwaja Chishti, Modi said in a message that India has been a land of sages, saints and prophets for thousands of years.

He recalled Khwaja Chishti's message of amity to his followers and said it is relevant even today.

"Khwaja had given a great message to his followers from all religions to live in harmony, keeping with the tradition of sufis and saints. That message is relevant even today," the Prime Minister said.

He handed over the 'chaadar' to be offered at the dargah to Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister of State for Minority Affairs.

Incidentally, US President Barack Obama also offered a ‘chadar’ at Ajmer on Saturday. It was presented to the Dargah committee by US Ambassador to India Richard Verma.

'Chadar' is a ceremonial cloth inscribed with religious verses.

Reverentially called Khwaja ji, Moinuddin Chisty’s is one the most famous Sufi saints of the Indian subcontinent.

Earlier this month, a controversy had erupted over a delegation of Muslim leaders that included ‘Sajjada Nashin’ of Ajmer dargah.

Ajmer Dargah Deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan claimed that he is the 'Sajjada Nashin' (successor) and not the one who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of a delegation as mentioned in a PMO statement.

Khan claimed that he was the official successor of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti and did not attend the meeting.

"The person who met the Prime Minister as Sajjada Nashin is not the Sajjada Nashin of Ajmer Sharif. The Sajjada Nashin Deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan was in Ajmer and if anyone has misused this title and designation, he has not only misled the PM but it is also a breach in PM's security," a statement from the office of Ajmer Dargah Deewan said.

The PMO statement mentioned 'Syed Sultan-Ul-Hasan Chishti Misbahi (Sajjada Nashin of Ajmer Sharif)' as one of the Muslim leaders who called on the PM.

(With Agency inputs)