Muslim organisations as well as academicians called a press conference against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Israel and against support of “Save Israel Campaign” by pseudo Muslim scholars and organisations at Press Club of India on 9 June and strongly condemned Modi’s visit which they believe would be at the cost of Palestinian cause and deviation from India’s age-old foreign policy.
Bansidhar Pradhan, Professor and Chairman, Centre for West Asian Studies School of International Studies (JNU), while addressing the press meet, said, “India’s stand was on the fundamental principle of justice against occupation. India’s support for the Palestinian cause is a part of India’s foreign policy heritage. The proposed visit is because when in 2006 the entire world had condemned Modi, Israel had welcomed him and this visit is meant to reciprocate that gesture.” Pradhan also said, Modi’s proposed visit to Israel will set a wrong precedent of securitisation of our foreign policy and looking everything with the prism of security is a dangerous sign and betrayal of the guidelines of our foreign policy laid out by our founding fathers.
Dr. Zafarul-Islam Khan, president AIMMM said a meeting was held in Delhi’s Le Meridien Hotel where some Muslim leaders and Muslim organisations and individuals from the American Church participated and I was also invited but I did not participate. The theme of the meet was all party meet for the Middle East. But on the very day of the meet, I received an email from the same man who is president of the global peace initiative and who had organised the meet. I have the copy with me and in that it was clearly mentioned that their objective was to save Israel and save Middle East.
It was also intended to stop the nuclear agreement between Iran and America because Israel feels that if it is done it will be a disaster for Israel. Later on those who attended the meet realised that it was all about Israel and had nothing to do with Middle East. Mr. Khan also cautioned the Indian government about the treacherous tendency of Israel because earlier Israel had passed secret information to other countries and it may even pass out India’s secret information to China and Pakistan.
Ameeque Jamei, convenor, Delhi Pradesh of All India Tanzeem- e-Insaaf, while conducting the programme, said the proposed visit and the visible intention can be summarised as murder of our foreign policy and urged all like-minded people and organisations to come forward and oppose the visit at all levels.
Subodh Narayan Malakar, Chairman Centre for African Studies, said that international pressure, World Bank and IMF including America are continuously putting pressure to change our foreign policy in accordance with the sentiments of the west; it is dangerous. And we will not allow this to happen because India is one of the greatest democracies on the face of the earth and therefore its responsibility towards other countries should be accordingly without succumbing to international pressure.