PM hails Bohra Muslims for spreading message of peace

Indore: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invoked Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, to emphasise the need for peace and justice, as he visited a mosque here to attend an event organised by the Bohra Muslims.

Modi shared the dais with the Bohra community's spiritual head Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin at the 'Ashara Mubarak' event, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Husain, at the Saifee Mosque here in Madhya Pradesh.

According to a spokesman of the Bohra community, it is the first time that a prime minister has attended the 'Ashara Mubarak' programme of the community held annually during the first ten days of the Shia calendar, coinciding with the Moharram.

Addressing a gathering of Dawoodi Bohra community members, Modi said, "Imam Hussain had sacrificed his life for the sake of peace and justice. He had raised his voice against injustice and arrogance."

He added that these teachings of Imam Hussain were more important today than those times.

The prime minister, who was felicitated by Saifuddin on his arrival at the mosque, showered praise on the Bohra Muslim community for globally spreading the message of co-existence.

"The concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' is a great strength of India, making it distinct from others. The Bohra community is making the world aware of this concept through its work," Modi said.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, he explained, is an ancient Indian concept which envisages the the world as one family.

"We are proud of our past, we believe in our present and are confident of our bright future," Modi said at the event which was also attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

In his address, the prime minister spoke about his government's initiatives like 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' (cleanliness campaign), 'Make-in-India' programme and rollout of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).

He said the members of the Bohra community took maximum advantage of these initiatives as they are known to carry out their trade and business world over with honesty.

"They (Bohras) have set an example for other people (with their honest trade dealings)," he said. At the same time, he added, "all five fingers of a hand are not equal. Some people consider fraud as business."