Delhi: As soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi climbed the stage at the World Sufi Forum, he was greeted with chants of 'Bharat Mata ki jai' by two men sitting in the audience.
Later, when the PM was about to begin his speech, the same men again chanted 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' slogan.
The incident comes in the backdrop of the controversy surrounding the slogan.
It all started when on March 14, rejecting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's suggestion for infusing patriotism, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi had said that he will not chant 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' even if a knife is put to his throat,
This prompted the Shiv Sena to tell him that he should go to Pakistan.
Owaisi's assertion, days after Bhagwat had said that the new generation needs to be taught to chant slogans hailing mother India, drew sharp condemnation from RSS, BJP and Shiv Sena, while he stood by his statement made at a public rally.
"I don't chant that slogan. What are you going to do, Bhagwat sahab," the Lok Sabha MP from Hyderabad had said at the rally in Udgir tehsil of Latur district in Maharashtra.
"I won't utter that (slogan) even if you put a knife to my throat," Owaisi had said, amid loud applause from the crowd. "Nowhere in the Constitution it says that one should say: 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'," he had added.
Meanwhile, the World Sufi Forum has been convened by the All India Ulama and Mashaikh Boar, to discuss the role of Sufism in countering rising global terror.
The four-day event, beginning Thursday is being attended by over 200 delegates, including foreign delegates from 20 countries.
Spiritual leaders, scholars, academicians and theologists from Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, the UK, the US, Canada and Pakistan, among other countries are coming for the event.
Speaking at the event, the PM termed Sufism "the voice of peace", noting that none of the 99 names of Allah stands for violence.
"Sufism is the voice of peace, co-existence, compassion, equality and a call to universal brotherhood. When we think of 99 names of Allah, no one stands for force and violence. The first two names of Allah are compassionate and merciful. Allah is Rahman and Rahim. Sufism is the celebration of diversity and pluralism," he said.
"Sufis experience universal message of almighty that perfection in human life is reflected in qualities that are dear to God. For the Sufis, service to God meant service to humanity," the PM added.
PM Modi also hit out at people who spread terror across the world in the guise of religion.
"Those who spread terror in the name of religion are anti-religious. The fight against terrorism is not a confrontation against any religion. It cannot be," he said.
Extolling the Sufis, he said, "At a time when the dark shadow of violence is becoming longer, you are the noor or the light of hope. When young laughter is silenced by guns on the streets, you are the voice that heals," the PM said,
Later, he also tweeted about it:
World Sufi Forum is an extraordinary event, giving the message of peace, tolerance & love. Glad to have attended. pic.twitter.com/Uwnd0jAOsb
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 17, 2016
In a time when terrorism and extremism have become the most destructive force of our times, the message of Sufism has global relevance.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 17, 2016
We need to reject any link between terror & religion. Those who spread terror in the name of religion are nothing but anti-religious.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 17, 2016
Come, together let us challenge violence with kindness & compassion. Let us turn this world into a garden of peace! https://t.co/OZm36ua6OE
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 17, 2016
(With Agency inputs)
