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| India-Pakistan |
| Saudi king offers to renovate Indian mosque, fund education, stirs unease |
| 2006-01-04 |
| Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, who plans to visit India this month, has offered to renovate the nation's largest mosque as well as provide money for education, The Times of India reported Wednesday. But the newspaper said the offer had raised worries among India's security agencies, who fear an influx of Saudi money could be used for the "promotion of sectarianism" in the mainly Hindu but officially secular country. Neither the Saudi Embassy nor the government was available for comment on the newspaper report. The sprawling Jama Masjid mosque, in the Indian capital's teeming old quarter, was built in 1656 by Emperor Shahjahan and is in need of repair. In addition to repairing the mosque, which can hold 20,000 worshippers, the Saudis also wish to provide funds for education, the newspaper said. It did not specify whether the money would be earmarked for Muslim schools or to fund education in general. India's Muslim population totals 130 million, according to the 2001 census. While uneasy over the offer, the newspaper said the government was keen not to cause offence to the king, who will be the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations on January 17. At the same time, the report said the government would much prefer the visit - the first by a Saudi monarch in 51 years to India - was "kept to the secular and economic levels." The paper said the offer to repair the mosque came from the Saudi king, whose emissary contacted the institution's chief cleric, Syed Ahmed Bukhari. It said Bukhari confirmed the offer and had asked the Saudis to approach the government. Bukhari also was not immediately available for comment. The king is visiting India as part of a four-nation tour, which will also take him to Pakistan, China and Malaysia. News reports have quoted Saudi diplomats as saying the trip to India could help the desert kingdom contribute to the peace process between New Delhi and Islamabad aimed at settling their decades-old feud over Kashmir. The visit will be King Abdullah's first outside the Middle East since taking over the reins of the kingdom following the death of King Fahd in August. |
| Posted by:john |
| #2 Gee, I wonder why they'd be worried that Saudi money = Wahhabi... |
| Posted by: Snump Flaviper5941 2006-01-04 23:07 |
| #1 gotta factor in the number of dead required by the ROPma™ as part of the Dhimmitude |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-01-04 23:04 |