By Saad Bin Zia, RINA,

New Delhi: Participation of Muslim envoys to Narendra Modi's Vibrant Gujarat programme has come under severe criticism by Indian Muslim organizations. Representative of Arab League, Brunei, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Maldives, and Indonesia participated in the programme held in Ahmedabad on 12th and 13th January 2009.

President of All India Muslim Majlis Mushawarat and Chief Editor of The Milli Gazzette Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan has severely criticized these Muslim envoys for their participation. "It is extremely shameful on their part. They have so quickly forgotten that our Supreme Court has compared Narendra Modi with Nero. His hands are laced with blood of Muslims. He has not repented for his crimes. Since just that he is talking about growth and development his sins are not washed off. He has not realized his mistakes. I personally feel that these envoys should not have gone there". When asked about what his organization is doing in this regard he replied, "We trying to get names of these envoys and as soon as we get them we will write protest letter to them".

Leader of Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind (JUH) Maulana Mahmood Madani was of the view, "These envoys should absolutely not have done that. As all of us know the international Human Rights organizations have condemned Modi government and called it a Fascist government. Even the United States of America has slammed Gujarat. Under such circumstances these Muslim envoys should have refrained from going there. They have committed a mistake by going there. However, I do feel that we should not give much importance to this".

Maulana Asghar Imam Salafi, General Secretary Jamiat Ahle Hadith, India opined, "I do not have details about this. I must say every country has its own issues, politics and policies. We should not make big issue out of it. I would like to emphasize that in every thing negative we should always take something positive out of it. Therefore, I assert that there is possibility for these Muslim envoys to convey to Narendra Modi that there exists a yawning gap between what you preach and what you actually practice".

Following Muslim envoys are reported to have attended the programme:

1. A. S. Vashishi - Arab League

2. Zainul Abbidin Rashid - Singapore Foreign Trade

3. Haji Sidek Ali - High Commissioner of Brunei

4. Andi M. Ghalib – Ambassador of Indonesia

5. Kalfan Bin Khirbash - Former Finance Minister of Abu Dhabi

6. Sheikh Humaid Bin Ali - Ambassador, Oman

7. Mohamed Asim, High Commissioner, Maldives