By Imtiaz Hussain Abro.
A non-Muslim delegation from India undertakes a ‘historic’ tour of sacred sites in Madinah.
In a surprising twist of events, a two-day visit to Madina, Saudi Arabia, was undertaken by an official delegation from India, led by Smriti Zubin Irani. Irani, serving as the Indian Minister for Child and Women Development and Minority Affairs, donned traditional Indian attire during her exploration of various historical sites in Madina. It’s noteworthy that Madina typically discourages entry for non-Muslims, making Irani’s delegation the first group of non-Muslims to receive special permissions from Saudi Authorities for this unique visit.
The delegation, which included V Muraleedharan, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, also played a crucial role in finalizing arrangements and pilgrimage quotas for Indian participants in the annual Haj Pilgrimage. Nirupama Kotru, an IRS officer posted as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Minority Affairs, accompanied Irani on the trip.
Sharing a collection of images from her Madina visit on platform X, Irani expressed, “Embarked on a historic journey to Madinah today, one of Islam’s holiest cities. The visit included exploring the vicinity of the revered Prophet’s Mosque, Al Masjid Al Nabwi, the mountain of Uhud, and the periphery of the Quba Mosque – the first Mosque of Islam. The significance of this visit, made possible by the graciousness of Saudi officials, is deeply intertwined with early Islamic history, emphasizing the profound nature of our cultural and spiritual engagement.”
During her visit, Irani signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to the agreement, India has been allocated a quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims for the upcoming haj pilgrimage.
