Grand Mufti of India Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and discussed a range of issues concerning minority welfare, education and inclusive development, according to a statement posted by the cleric on X.
Abubakr Ahmad, who last year drew national attention for his intervention in the halting the execution of an Indian nurse facing murder case in Yemen, said he conveyed concerns gathered during his Kerala outreach programme themed “With Humanity,” including requests from various sections of society on social, humanitarian and developmental matters.
The discussions covered the need for inclusive growth embracing all communities, balanced regional development and fair allocation of resources based on population proportion, the statement said. He also stressed the importance of focusing on human development and happiness indices alongside economic growth.
Issues related to Waqf properties, protection of historic mosques and Islamic heritage monuments, and the reinstatement of minority welfare schemes, including the Maulana Azad National Fellowship, were raised during the meeting.
Abubakr Ahmad also highlighted challenges faced by Islamic institutions in North India, including Jamia Ashrafiyya Mubarakpur, and called for the development of the Aligarh Muslim University Malappuram Centre. He sought improved rail connectivity linking major pilgrimage centres in South India and attention to ensuring justice in cases involving innocent individuals, including the Bareilly incident.
According to the statement, the Prime Minister said he closely follows the educational and social welfare initiatives undertaken by Samasta Kerala Jam’iyyathul Ulama and Markaz Knowledge City, and appreciated their efforts.