Smriti Irani Leads Non-Muslim Indian Delegation’s Historic Visit to Medina

Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani and Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan made a historic visit to the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia on Monday.

This non-Muslim delegation from India was welcomed to Medina hinting at the bonding of India-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations.

“This exceptional gesture by the Saudi side, welcoming a non-Muslim delegation to Madinah, underscores the strength of the bilateral relations between India and Saudi Arabia. As both nations continue to forge stronger ties, this historic visit is poised to contribute significantly to mutual understanding and cooperation in the realm of religious and cultural exchanges,” a government statement said.

The delegation also included CPS Bakshi, Joint Secretary, Haj, an IRS officer from Punjab, and IRS officer Nirupama Kotru from Kashmir. The Bilateral Haj Agreement for Haj 2024 was signed between India and Saudi Arabia on January 7.

On January 8, the delegation visited the revered Prophet’s Mosque (Al Masjid Al Nabwi) in the Markazia area of Madinah, followed by a pilgrimage to the historic mountain of Uhud and the Quba Mosque, the first mosque of Islam.

Medina stands as one of the holiest cities in Islam as it is the place to which the Prophet Muhammad migrated, marking the inception of the Islamic calendar.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to have a bilateral with UAE President Mohammad bin Zayed in Ahmedabad on Tuesday as the tenth edition of Vibrant Gujarat Summit commences.