Rajasthan Minority Affairs Minister Shale Mohammad offers prayer at a Shiva temple | Photo Credit: ANI

Barmer: Rajasthan Minority Affairs Minister Shale Mohammad on Monday offered prayers at a Shiva temple in Jaisalmer. A picture showing him wearing sacred Rudraksha mala and sitting across a shivling was released earlier Wednesday. The minister said that he visited the shrine because of his personal belief.

Shale Mohammad, the son of Muslim religious leader Gazi Fakir, is the only Muslim face in Ashok Gehlot's cabinet. Mohammad arrived at his constituency Pokhran on Sunday for the first time after becoming a minister.

After performing a ‘Rudrabhishek’ puja and offering honey and milk on shivling, Mohammad told reporters: “Gods and goddesses don't belong to any caste. It is not about Hindus and Muslims. Everyone has his faith. We have Ganga-Jamuni brotherhood which is in itself an example. Hindus and Muslims both have strong faith in Baba Ramdev (a temple in Ramdevra of local deity Baba Ramdev).”

As per priest of the temple, Madhu Changani, it was not the first time that Mohammad has performed a puja in the temple. "He had visited this temple during state assembly election as well. It was not the first time he visited the temple. He has some association with the temple," said Changani.

Mohammad won from the Pokhran constituency in the recently-held Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018. He had defeated BJP's Swami Pratap Puri, a spiritual leader and head of Taratara Math in Barmer district.

Times Network - India's Leading Broadcasting Network, uniquely offering English Entertainment, best in class News channels & Bollywood Masala, available at a Value pack (7 channels) of Rs 13/- per month.

Please contact your cable/DTH service provider now and ensure that your TV viewing experience is complete. To know more click here.