PM Modi met religious head of Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, at a mosque in Indore. (IndiaTV)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met religious head of Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, at a mosque in Indore on Friday. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, PM Modi praised the Dawoodi Bohra community for its honesty in trade and business. PM Modi said the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family) gives India an identity different from all other countries.
"The concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam gives a distinct identity to India from the rest of the world and the Bohra community is an example of it," he said.
Thousands of community members have arrived in Indore from various parts of the world to hear their religious head's sermons during during the ongoing nine-day religious discourse. Dawoodi Bohras are a sect within Shia Islam.
WATCH VIDEO: PM Modi's address to Bohra community
Highlights of PM Modi's speech:
12:01 pm: Your love, affection and support is my strength. I strive to continue serving you all with this strength, says PM Modi
12:00 pm: We are launching 'Swachta Hi Seva' programme from tomorrow which will continue until October 2. I invite all of you to participate in the cleanliness drive, and make it a success: PM Modi
11:52 am: Our government is aiming to provide a house to every person by 2022. One crore people have already received the keys of their houses: PM Modi
11:50 am: Only 40 per cent households had toilets when I became the PM. One can imagine the difficulties women had to face. Now, almost 90 per cent houses have toilets. We hope to make the country open defecation free soon: PM Modi in Indore
11:47 am:
11:44 am: The Dawoodi Bohra community has huge contribution in country’s mission of ‘vikas’ (development), says PM Modi
11:41 am: It is our power of co-existence that makes the world aware of our strength. We are proud of our past, believe in our present and promise to build a better future: PM Modi
11:38 am: I have an old connect with the Bohra community. You supported me when I CM of Gujarat. It is that love which has brought me here. We must stand united for peace. Bohra community is a source of great inspiration for all of us: PM Modi
11:30 am: I am honoured that I have been given an opportunity to attend Ashara Mubaraka. I am grateful to address the Bohra community, says PM Modi.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan were also present during Modi's visit.
The prime minister's visit to Saifi Nagar mosque in Indore to meet Bohra community's head also assumes significance as Assembly polls are due in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh by year-end. Around 2.5 lakh Dawoodi Bohras are estimated to live in the state, mainly in Indore, Ujjain and Burhanpur districts.
In view of the prime minister's visit, security was ramped up in the region, Indore range Deputy Inspector General of Police HC Mishra said.
Drone cameras were deployed to keep an eye over the city along with 150 CCTV cameras. About 3,500 policemen were also deployed in the city, Mishra added.
(With inputs from PTI)
