Islam occupies unique, significant position of pride in India, says top Modi diplomat

Ajit Doval’s remarks came at an event at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi where Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary general of the Muslim World League, was also present.

• Shubham
• 11 July, 2023

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By: Shubham Ghosh

INDIA’S national security adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval on Tuesday (11) said the country has been a melting pot of cultures and religions that have co-existed on its soil for over centuries and that Islam occupies a significant “position of pride” amongst the country’s religious communities.

The 78-year-old diplomat’s remarks came at an event at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi where Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary general of the Muslim World League, was also present. Al-Issa, a politician from Saudi Arabia who is currently on a visit to India, also addressed the gathering.

Doval hailed Al-Issa as an authentic global voice of moderate Islam and a profound scholar who deeply understands Islam.

The Indian NSA also lauded the “excellent” ties between India and Saudi Arabia, adding that they were rooted in shared cultural heritage, common values and economic relations.

“Our leaders share a common vision for the future and have been closely interacting with each other,” Doval said, according to PTI.

“In your (Al-Issa) talk you elaborately mentioned diversity as a fundamental trait of our existence. It (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 drive home his point, the Indian official also said that the Muslim population of India is almost equal to the combined population of more than 33 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

(With PTI inputs)