By IANS,
New Delhi : Sirajuddin Qureshi, president of the India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC), Saturday described US President Barrack Obama’s Cairo speech as “historical” and hoped that Muslims will judge him by actions more than words.
“It was a truly historical and very clear, but people will believe him when words will be translated into action. Obama’s consent to Iranian peaceful nuclear ambition was a courageous step forward in right direction,” said Qureshi when a delegation from US Embassy handed over the copy of the president’s speech. Larry Schwartz of the Councillor Public Affairs Office led the delegation.
Qureshi said the speech reflected an attempt on Obama’s part to leave the past behind and move ahead in partnership with the Muslim world.
Obama’s stirring speech at the Cairo university struck a chord in India, home to the world’s second largest Muslim population, with academics and intellectuals seeing in it a new beginning by Washington to repair the US’ strained relations with the Muslim world.
“Obama is the first US President who expressed such positive opinion about Islam and its followers,” Qureshi said.
Among others present on the occasion were Safdar H. Khan, vice president and Wasi Ahmed Nomani, secretary of the cultural centre.