JAIPUR: As part of the BJP ’s grand Muslim outreach strategy, clerics from Ajmer Sharif , in their traditional skullcap and sherwani, will be seen honouring Narendra Modi and senior party leaders during the September 10 rally in the Pink City.

The ceremony has been carefully crafted by the BJP top brass which has asked its minority wing to ensure a visible and sizeable gathering of the community during the rally. Conscious of the images which would be beamed through the media, the party has issued specific directive that the Muslim representatives ought to be in traditional attire like men in sherwani and women in burqa.

BJP leader and Dargah khadim Syed Afshan Chishty , who performs Ziarat for state BJP chief Vasundhara Raje, is busy preparing for the rally. He will felicitate the guests including BJP president Rajnath Singh and the Gujarat CM with ‘dastarbandi’ (honouring in a traditional manner by giving ‘pagdi’ or ‘chunni’ along with the Dargah’s picture). “I will invite all of them to the Dargarh for Ziarat,” said Chishty.

“We have sent text messages to over 1 lakh primary members from the minority community across the state and expect around 10000 of them including 2000 burqa-clad women. Men will compulsorily wear skullcaps to indicate that Muslims are with the BJP,” Amin Khan Pathan, state president of BJP minorities’ cell, told TOI on Friday.

National executive member of BJP’s minority morcha and Dargah khadim, Syed Ibrahim Fakhar, was directed by the BJP leaders to gather Muslims for the rally, mostly in their traditional attire. “I have asked our people to come in our traditional dresses— kurta pajama or sherwanis to give a clear message that Muslims are embracing the BJP,” said Fakhar. The party has booked four buses to ferry people.

Sources said the BJP’s top leadership had directed the Muslim leaders in the state recently to ensure maximum participation from the community at the rally which will virtually kickstart the party’s campaign for the coming assembly polls.

The BJP leadership is aware that the Muslim community is decisive in at least 40 assembly constituencies. Party managers want to invade the Congress’ traditional votebank with an eye on wresting power. Muslim leaders, especially from Tonk, Sawai Madhopur and Nagaur, are also keen on ensuring the rally’s success as they eye party ticket for the polls.

Rajnath Singh is also not leaving any platform to bring the minority community into the party fold. At a BJP minorities morcha meet recently, he stated,“Forget communal violence of 2002 and join hands for better future.” During another conference in Jaipur, he asked the minorities, especially in BJP-ruled states, to address their grievances to him directly.