Award defies logic given Modi’s record before and after taking office as Prime Minister
By TCN News,
Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos has condemned the Saudi government’s decision to confer Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the nation’s highest civilian award.
During his visit to Saudi Arabia Prime Minister Modi on Sunday was conferred the Arabian country’s highest civilian honour — the King Abdulaziz Sash – by King Salman bin Abdulaziz at the Royal Court.
IAMC criticized Saudi Monarchy for honoring Modi while a case against him for Gujarat pogrom 2002 is still pending before Gujarat High Court.
“It is expected that the Indian Prime Minister is accorded the respect befitting a head of state. However, conferring of the highest civilian award on Modi by those who claim to be the custodians of the two Holy Mosques is a slap in the face of survivors of the Gujarat pogroms of 2002. It is also a demonstration of indifference to the increased attacks and threats against the religious minorities and Dalits in India,” said Umar Malick, President of IAMC.
Since coming to power, the Modi administration is widely viewed as working steadily to erode religious freedom and India’s long-cherished traditions of tolerance among its diverse populace.
Ranging from attacks on churches and mob violence against Muslims and Dalits, to felicitating the killer of Mahatma Gandhi, supporters of Modi have been openly pursuing a divisive agenda, which is antithetical to the country’s Constitution and its egalitarian ideals. However, Modi’s administration has not taken any stern action against them neither it issued any strong statements of condemnation.
“Coming from the Saudi monarchy, which is known for its repressive domestic policies and human rights violations, the award itself is of dubious value. It diminishes, rather than enhances the office of the Prime Minister of India,” added Malick.