By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: The India Islamic Cultural Centre, the most sought-after modern address of the Muslim community in India’s National Capital, today rolled out red carpet for its distinguished guest Farah Pandit who is on her maiden visit to the country as United States Special Representative to Muslim Communities. IICC president Sirajuddin Qureshi and who’s who of the Delhi Muslim community gave warm welcome to Farah, Kashmir-born Indian-American Muslim who is now holding a coveted post in President Barack Obama’s administration.
One-fourth of the world population is Muslim, so United States wants to build partnership with Muslim communities across the planet on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect, said Farah in her 5-minute speech. She reiterated President Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton’s vision for building long-term relationship with the Muslim communities. “Since I assumed office last September I have been crisscrossing the Muslim world. I have visited Nigeria, Indonesia, Iraq and many other Muslim countries. For us New Delhi is as much important as any Muslim country because India has third largest Muslim population in the world,” said she who had reached the venue after visiting Jamia Millia Islamia where she gave a lecture on “Muslims in the US.” “As more than 25% of the world population is below the age of 30, we want to engage youth of the Muslim community,” she said.
L-R: G N Qazi, V-C, Jamia Hamadard, Mahmudur Rahman, ex-AMU V-C, Sirajuddin Qureshi, IICC president, Farah Pandit, Uzra Zeya, political affairs head, US Embassy in Delhi
Earlier welcoming Farah Pandit, IICC President and businessman Sirajuddin Qureshi said that turning clash of civilizations into dialogue between civilizations is the hallmark of Obama’s regime. If the US could play effective role in resolving Palestine-Israel conflict, it will be welcomed by the Muslim world. “I am proud of being Indian and Muslim. I assure you of our full support to Obama’s vision,” he said.
Prof. Akhtarul Wasey of Jamia Millia Islamia said the world Muslims have now high expectation from President Obama after his speeches in his inauguration, in Turkey and Egypt where he gave clear indication of shift in US approach to the Muslim world. “Now they are awaiting the day when Iraq and Afghanistan will be completely free of foreign occupation,” he said.
Ghulam Nabi Qazi, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Hamdard, said that he being a scientist wants evidence to accept anything. “If things are changing because of Obama’s outreach efforts, they must be seen happening,” he said and urged the Obama Government to normalize visa process for Muslims in India who want to visit US. He narrated his personal incident wherein he, despite holding a diplomatic passport, “was not given visa last year because he was Ghulam Nabi Qazi.” If President Obama could do something on this front, it will bring great change, he said.
Yesterday evening Farah Pandit had held a roundtable with Muslim journalists and talked about President Obama’s vision. Earlier in the day she had met Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid Ahmed Bukhari.
As Special Representative to Muslim Communities, Pandit is executing Secretary Clinton’s vision for engagement with Muslims around the world on a people-to-people and organizational level. Prior to this appointment, she was Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. In this role she was focused on Muslim communities in Europe where she was responsible for policy oversight for integration, democracy, and Islam in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.
Farah Pandit is among top Muslims of Indian descent in President Obama administration. Ebu Patel and Rashid Hussain are other prominent officials of Indian origin.