- Saudi Arabia’s former Minister for Justice Al-Issa who is the current Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), considered a leading global voice on moderate Islam, is on a five-day visit to India.
- With all its diversity, India is a great model for coexistence not only in just mere words but also on the ground.”- He said.
- “Islam Occupies Unique ‘Position of Pride’ In India”: NSA Ajit Doval
- In his remarks, Mr. Doval said India as the world’s largest democracy and the mother of democracies is a land of incredible diversity.
- India has been a melting pot of cultures, religions, languages and ethnicities that have co-existed in harmony for centuries, Says Doval.
Saudi Arabia’s former Minister for Justice, considered a leading global voice on moderate Islam, said that India with its diversity is “a great model for coexistence” and that the country can send a message of peace to the world.
Al-Issa who is the current Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), an organisation based in Saudi Arabia and representing Muslims worldwide, was delivering an address at an event at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in the national capital.
The Saudi leader is on a five-day visit to India that began on July 10. Appreciating “Indian wisdom”, Al-Issa said, “We reach out with the different components and diversity for the common objectives that we share. We have heard a lot about Indian wisdom and we know that it has contributed a lot to humanity.” “We know that here coexistence is very important, we also work on promoting stability and harmony all over the world. We know that the Indian component, with all its diversity, is a great model for coexistence not only in just mere words but also on the ground.”
The visiting Saudi delegate said that his organization is working across the world to promote religious awareness.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said India has been a melting pot of cultures and religions that have co-existed in harmony for centuries, and Islam occupies a unique and significant “position of pride” amongst the religious groups in the country.
Mr. Doval’s remarks came during the event at the India Islamic Cultural Centre where Muslim World League Secretary General Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, also addressed the gathering.
Mr. Doval hailed Al-Issa as an authentic global voice of moderate Islam and a profound scholar with a deep understanding of Islam. Hailing the “excellent” relations between India and Saudi Arabia, Mr Doval said the ties were rooted in shared cultural heritage, common values and economic ties.
“Our leaders share a common vision for the future and have been closely interacting with each other,” the National Security Advisor said.
In his remarks, Mr. Doval said India as the world’s largest democracy and the mother of democracies is a land of incredible diversity. “In your (Al-Issa) talk you elaborately mentioned diversity as a fundamental trait of our existence. India has been a melting pot of cultures, religions, languages and ethnicities that have co-existed in harmony for centuries. As an inclusive democracy, India has successfully managed to provide space for all its citizens regardless of their religious, ethnic and cultural identities,” he said.
“Amongst its numerous religious groups, Islam occupies a unique and significant position of pride with India being home to the second largest Muslim population in the world,” he said.
To give an idea of the scale we are talking about, India’s Muslim population is almost equal to the combined population of over 33 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Doval added.
(With inputs from agencies)
