Sufi saint prays at Gandhi Ashram, begins peace mission

The Sufi saint, Maulana Hazrat Imam Sai Sayeed Mehendi Hussain, began his mission for communal harmony on Monday after praying to Mahatma Gandhi on his 142nd birth anniversary at the Gandhi ashram in Sabarmati. He also observed roza for the day and prayed for peace to all.

Hussain has been in the news since Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi declined to wear the skullcap offered to him by the saint during the Sadbhavana Mission fast. Hussain had then offered him a shawl which the chief minister had accepted.

"Unity of Hindus and Muslims is true Sadbhavana," said Husaain. He said he had observed the Sadbhavana Roza to propagate among Hindus and Muslims of Gujarat the ideal of communal harmony that was taught by Mahatma Gandhi.

Amrut Modi, trustee of Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust said that the Sufi saint had offered prayers to the Mahatma. From Sunday, he would be travelling to different places in the state to foster communal harmony, Amrut Modi added

The saint has also formed Rashtriya Sadbhavana Samiti to foster communal harmony. The samiti would include members of both the communities and would work to bring them closer.

After his visit to the Sadbhavna Mission fast of the chief minister, Hussein had claimed that Modi had insulted him by not accepting the skullcap he had offered to him. The Sufi saint had said that if Modi can accept all types of headgear from different communities, why could he not wear the cap?