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Gaddafi Meets Indian Delegation to Defuse Indo-Pak Tension
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"I invite you people to talk peace," Gaddafi told the delegation. |
By
IOL South Asia Correspondent
NEW
DELHI, June 8 (IslamOnline) - At the time India and Pakistan are on
the verge of nuclear warfare, Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi took a
self-styled peace initiative to end hostility between the two Asian
neighbors.
Gaddafi
invited a group of prominent Indians in his tent in the Libyan desert,
some distance from his birth place, Sirte. The impressive Indian team
includes a galaxy ranging from a Hindu pontiff (Shankaracharaya) to
luminaries of Darul Uloom Deoband, the Subcontinent’s
largest seat of Islamic learning.
The
30-member group included two university vice chancellors and two
members of Parliament. They visited Libya late May at the
invitation of Gaddafi International Foundation for Charity Association
(GIFCA) Which is headed by Saiful Islam, Gaddafi’s son. Saif visited
India last Ramadan and interacted with many groups of Indians.
"In
fact the group was invited at the behest of Col. Gaddafi who is very
much concerned over the growing tension between India and
Pakistan," says MA Kazmi, who was one of the members of the
group.
The
Indian group sat around Gaddafi and listened to his lecture carefully.
He caused them to leap every once in a while with his surprising
observation like "you know nothing about God," or "when
I come to India I shall lead you all in prayer."
Shankaracharaya
Sri Adhokshjanane Dev Tirthji of Puri, Maulana Asad Madni president of
Jamiatul Ulema-e-Hind, Dalit leader Udit Raj, JNU vice chancellor GK
Chaddha, Jamia Hamdard VC Siraj Hussain, Prof. K Mathew of Delhi
University’s department of African Studies, members of Parliament AR
Kidwai (a former governor) and KM Khan, Namdhari Sikh leader HS
Hanspal, president of the Universal Association for Spiritual
Awareness, Pandit NK Sharma, once political advisor of the then Prime
Minister Narasimha Rao, chairman of the Hind Agro Industries,
Sirajuddin Quraishi, beside other businessmen, retired civil servants
and a representative group from Deoband. It was a unique combination
to be seldom seen together in India.
"Imperialism
does not want India as a strong nation,” said Gaddafi.
“Imperialists are trying to divide India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to
create mini states there, and create rivalries among them. There is no
reason that could lead to a war between India and Pakistan as the
boundaries are known, but plots are continuing to engage them into
war.
"Israel
and [the] United States want to see both India and Pakistan destroyed.
U.S. nowadays is pushing Israel to have a close relationship with
India. Of course, Israel is not going to grant any appreciable help as
it does not like Indians. Israel is inciting India against Pakistan
and vice versa."
In
Gaddafi's view the rulers in India and Pakistan are blind and are
against the masses. "There has been no use talking to the rulers
of India and Pakistan," he said.
Gaddafi
sent his special envoy Salem bin Amr to India and Pakistan in January
during the SAARC summit to ease tensions between the two counties. He
stayed in the region for full 20 days.
"We
talked to the leaders of India and Pakistan on many occasions, but it
did not bear fruit, so I invite you people to talk peace, " the
Libyan leader told the delegation.
"We
know the role of the U.S. and Israel. They did [the] same thing during
Iran-Iraq war. [The] U.S. was supportive of Iraq to oust Khomeini,
while Israel was supplying arms to Iran. Now Israel and [the] U.S. are
in agreement to destroy both India and Pakistan," he argued.
He
added that the U.S. on the one hand hatched plots, and tried – on
the other hand – to play the role of an intermediary. He advised the
people of both countries to seek unity and safeguard the territorial
integrity of the Subcontinent. "The Subcontinent is one
family and you have to maintain the sanctity of the family," he
said.
“While
European nations, African nations are uniting, you are talking of
further division. Mini-nations are not viable in present days and
can’t face new challenges,” said Gaddafi.
Islam
means submission to God; in this way Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and
Christians are all believers in God; in fact we are unified in God, he
told religious leaders.
"If
Muslims kills Hindus in the name of religion or vice versa, then take
it from me that they will both burn in Hell," he said.
"If
I visit India, I will lead the prayer and invite all of you to join
these prayers to God or Brahama who belongs to everyone. Dividing
people in his name is the worst sin," said the Libyan ruler.
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