Uddhav Thackeray’s Haji Ali photograph finds a place on dargah wall

Shaikh, who defected to the Shiv Sena from Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena last year, said, “Lakhs of people from all communities, especially Muslims, visit the Haji Ali mosque. When they see the photograph by Uddhav Thackeray there, they will have immense regard for the leader and the party. It will also send a strong message that the Thackeray family, which is perceived to be rooted in Hinduism, respects all communities.”

Shaikh said the Haji Ali dargah foundation had spruced up the wall to accommodate the picture, which would be prominently displayed with the name of the photographer, Uddhav Thackeray, and the party symbol. “I have given my word to Uddhav Thackeray that I will make Kurla and Kalina Shiv Sena’s new Lalbaug and Parel,” Shaikh said.

A photograph by the Shiv Sena chief at Haji Ali, which houses the tomb of Muslim saint Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari in a complex of white domes and elegant minarets on an islet in the Arabian Sea, could go a long way for the party in reaching out to Muslim voters, especially ahead of the 2017 Mumbai civic polls, believes party leaders. The Sena had recently faced flak over an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana that suggested revoking the voting rights of Muslims as they are used as a vote bank.

The Election Commission too had expressed strong displeasure over it.

A Shiv Sena spokesperson, however, said it was not the party that arranged for installation of the mosque’s photograph at Haji Ali, and that Thackeray would not be attending the event.

Besides Shaikh, Shiv Sena leaders such as MP Anil Desai, Mayor Snehal Ambekar and Sunil Shinde will be present at Haji Ali to install the photograph at 5 pm, Thursday. Rizwan Merchant, an advocate and dargah trustee, and Suhail Khandwani, managing trustee of the Mahim dargah and a trustee at Haji Ali, will also be present.

Khandwani said, “We never entertain any political association; our decision to place the photograph at the entrance is purely based on the artwork. The photograph was taken during the early morning hours. The shades and colours have come out very well. Besides, in a secular country, if this helps in strengthening the bond between two communities, it is good.”

He added that he had first seen the photo, a 2×3 feet frame, at Thackeray’s exhibition when Shaikh suggested it could be installed outside the mosque.

manasi.phadke@expressindia.com