Religion rules as sant & fakir battle it out in Pokhran

JAIPUR: A radioactive electoral battle is brewing 200 kms from Pakistan border in Pokhran, the site of India’s nuclear tests. So much so that Congress chief Rahul Gandhi would be visiting this remote constituency across Thar Desert on November 26 to mobilise votes for his party.

A Hindu saint Mahant Pratap Puri from BJP is taking on Muslim religious leader Ghazi Fakeer’s son Saleh Mohammad, who lost 2013 election to BJP’s Shaitan Singh contesting on a Congress ticket. He, however, had won the 2008 elections against the same rival.

Saleh Mohammad is banking heavily on his father Ghazi Fakeer’s influence over Sindhi Muslims who dominate this region. Being their religious leader, Fakeer wields great control over his community on either side of the border.


“BJP is trying to create a communal divide in Pokhran. But we will not let this happen. Muslims and Hindus have harmonious relationship and we will win with their combined support,” said Saleh Mohammed.

Mahant Pratap Puri, the chief priest of Barmer’s Taratara sect, has thousands of followers across Barmer-Jaisalmer region. Coming from a Rajput family, Puri has influence over Rajput voters, a sizeable number in this region. A firebrand monk who models himself on the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Puri is known to draw people easily on a Hindutva agenda.

“Congress is trying to give a communal colour to this electoral tie. But I am here to unite people. I will work towards the welfare of people as I have been doing all these years,” said Puri, in his trademark saffron robes.

Political observers believe that BJP fielded a saint to polarise Hindu votes to counter anti-incumbency plaguing the ruling party across the state.

“Issues of development, drinking water and infrastructure have taken a backseat. No one is talking about these. People are tagging it as a battle between Saint and Fakir. People are likely to cast their voters on communal ground,” said Ramesh Vijay, a political analyst.