By TCN News,
Riyadh: Renowned Indian businessman and a visionary of Islamic cultural issues, Mr. Sirajuddin Qureshi held a luncheon meeting with a group of affluent Indian community members and discussed various issues including the forthcoming election of Delhi based India Islamic Cultural Centre (IICC). Sirajuddin is the sitting president of IICC, an apex Islamic Centre with a mandate to provide a unified platform for promoting Islamic heritage and interfaith harmony and has been seeking third term for the highly prestigious post.
Kaunain Shahidi, IICC Life Member, welcomed the guests highlighting the main objectives of the Centre as creating mutual understanding and amity amongst the people & depicting the true face of Islam. ‘Centre works on the cardinal principles of human values irrespective of faith, and projects Islam as most tolerant, liberal and forward looking religion.’ Shahidi said.
Former student union leader & a well-known social activist Murshid Kamal informed that ‘It was acumen and farsightedness of Sirajuddin Qureshi which helped the Centre to grow many folds during his tenure’. Kamal highlighted the achievements of the Centre under the creative leadership of Sirajuddin as the centre managed to successfully organize the series of important activities and program including seminars, symposiums and interfaith dialogues on the various community welfare issues.
Prominent community leader Nadeem Tarin also shared his views on long association with the centre praising Sirajuddin Qureshi’s humble style of functioning. Nadeem said ‘The facelift of the Centre and a its recognition was not possible without tireless and selfless efforts of Sirajuddin Qureshi’. ‘As a president he and his team managed all the challenges and created a positive image of IICC which has become an icon for Muslims in India and Centre needs his services for another term’ Nadeem added.
Sirajuddin Qureshi who had won last election held in January 2009, against Congress leader and present External Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed, thanked the audience for all the support and ensured that if given responsibility for another term, would continue to cruise further. ‘We have a plan to set up Think Tank to identify and analyse the problems of Muslim community and offer tangible solutions so that the Muslims become the part of the Indian mainstream to serve the country as proud citizens.’ he mentioned while explaining the lists of projects as per his manifesto to further strengthen the centre and serving the community. Sirajuddin Qureshi also discussed the issues related to NRIs and requested the audience to get actively involved and use the resources of the Centre for their benefits.
Answering the question of the audience, Sirajuddin highlighted the recently concluded ‘Personality Development’ courses through which more than 8000 students were trained and well placed in the industries with the help of India Islamic Culture Centre. Qureshi also promised countrywide regional chapter in other Indian states on the pattern of Delhi if got elected for the third term.
Sirajuddin, a self- made entrepreneur, who has already carved a niche by leading the IICC, which is committed to the consolidation, synthesis, and assimilation of contemporary world cultures to the 21st Century looked confident for getting another term as President and keep on serving the community.
Prominent IICC members Tarique Masood and Asif Daudi also spoke on the occasion, which was attended by a large number of community members. Some senior community members present were Syed Muneer, Khursheed Anwar, Ghizal Mahdi, Firoz Rahman, Laique Azmi, Dr. Misbahul Arfeen, Akhtarul Islam, Syed Qasier, Ahad Siddiqui, Dr. Dilshad, Zaigham Khan, Dr. Ahmad Badshah, Obaidur Rehman and Naushad Alam.