Delegation of leaders from Muslim community calls on PM Modi

A delegation of 30 leaders from the Muslim community, led by Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.

Interacting with the leaders, the Prime Minister said he neither believes in politics which seeks to divide people on communal lines, nor will he ever speak communal language.

He said the politics of majority and minority had caused a lot of damage to the country. He said employment and development are the solution to all problems, and he is focused on delivering them.

The Prime Minister spoke of the initiatives in skill development taken by the Union Government, and the work done by him as Chief Minister of Gujarat in fields such as education of the girl child, and the revival of the kite industry.

The Prime Minister appreciated the gesture of the leaders, to take time out to meet him, even on the busy festive occasion of Shab-e-Barat.

The delegation members appreciated the Prime Minister's leadership over the last one year, and said they wanted to forge a partnership for progress and development with the Prime Minister.

They said that the Muslim community had rejected the divisive politics of vote-banks, and was interested in development.

"The Prime Minister assured us that his government is committed to not tolerate discrimination against anyone. He said that Muslims are as much a part of the nation as anyone else. It was a very good meeting. We spoke about how to strengthen the nation and the Ganga-Jamuni 'tehzeeb' which is moving towards hatred now," said Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, Chief Imam, All India Imam Organization.

The leaders congratulated the Prime Minister for his vision of Muslim youth with a Quran in one hand and a computer in the other. They also congratulated him for the country's success in the adoption of the International Day of Yoga, by the United Nations.

The Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, and National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, were present on the occasion.