Qadri was Modi’s state guest, admirer in 2012

 Drove in 30-foot-long limousine, thanked Modi for protocol but
refused to comment on Muslims’ massacre in Gujarat; takes a neutral stand
on Kashmir in talk with Indian TV channel

LAHORE: A legendary American comedian and film star, Julius Henry Marx, had once described ‘politics’ in a lighter vein: “Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies.”

Although the above-mentioned definition of ‘politics’ was given by a comedian, it does convey a fairly serious message to the Pakistani politicians. 

Addressing a reasonable crowd at Lahore’s historic Charing Cross on June 17 last, Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri had lashed out at Nawaz Sharif for not ‘saying enough’ over the arrest of a high-profile Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav and had bashed him for his ‘cordial relationship’ with the Narendra Modi regime across the border.

Well, as research tells us, this firebrand religious cleric-cum-politician is no alien to the incumbent Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi either.  Despite the killing of hundreds of Muslims in the Modi-governed Gujarat during 2002, Dr. Tahirul Qadri had accepted the status of a state guest in this state during his February-March 2012 visit to various Indian cities.

Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat state during Qadri’s visit, as he was a decade earlier when rioting had officially resulted in the deaths of 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus; though independent sources had estimated that up to 2,500 followers of Islam had perished in communal clashes. 

Modi was then accused by Indian and international media of initiating and condoning the violence. The Times of India reported on Feb 27, 2012, “Pakistani Islamic scholar Tahir-ul-Qadri on his first visit to Gujarat thanked chief minister Narendra Modi for the security arrangements provided to him.

Qadri, known for his strong views against terrorism and extremism, however, refused to comment on 2002 communal riots. Qadri has been in Gujarat since Friday night to lay foundation stone of India headquarters of Minhaj-ul-Quran International in Karjan on Saturday evening.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the function in Karjan, he said he did not have knowledge of India's provincial states and its political leaders. "But it is my first visit to Gujarat and special Z-plus security arrangements have been made by the state. I thank the CM for this," he said. On repeated questions about the 2002 communal riots, Qadri insisted he did not come to Gujarat to speak about specific incidents, but termed them as unfortunate.

"My talk in letter and spirit is just for peace and harmony. Violence at any place, killing of mankind should be condemned, but I de-link it with the events (Godhra riots) you are referring to," he said. He also drew parallels between Quran and Bhagwad Gita.

Qadri struck a local chord immediately. "Tamam Gujarati mate dua karu chu. Khushal raho, hali mali ne raho. (I am praying for all Gujaratis. Live in prosperity and live in harmony)," he said.

Qadri said nobody can rectify whatever has happened in the past. "Nobody can regenerate or recreate past, but efforts should be made to prevent such events in future. The only way is to look for a better future, create an atmosphere of togetherness for which mutual tolerance is necessary," he said, stressing that his efforts are for inter-faith, inter-cultural harmony at global level.”

During his visit to Gujarat during February 2012, Qadri had spoken the essence of the Holy Quran and Gita for two hours on the local television network.

On January 17, 2013, a premier Indian newspaper “The Hindustan Times” had reported: “There's a lesser-known side to the Sufi cleric rocking Pakistan's establishment with his fiery speeches and mass marches: he has a knowledge of Hindu scriptures and made a controversial visit to Gujarat a year ago. Aware of his history of closeness to the army, politicians fret that the two may be working in tandem to displace the civilian administration. But Qadri, who is based in Canada, has a scholarly and secular side to him. His visit to Gujarat last February was marked by a two-hour televised address on the essence of the Gita and the Quran. And he was a state guest of the government of Narendra Modi, the BJP chief minister who still faces allegations of turning a blind eye to riots that killed Muslims in 2002.” 

The newspaper had added: “Qadri's advice to Gujarati Muslims to shed their "sense of victimhood" riled many, as leaders of the prominent Jamiat-ul-Ulema Islam organization accused him of "praising the killer of Muslims.” Finally, he had to clarify that he "had stressed that no such unfortunate events like riots should repeat and those who perpetrated should face the law." BJP leader Chudasama, now a minister in the Modi cabinet, was at the event. He said Qadri advocated social and communal harmony and denounced Jihadi extremism. Chudasama had described him as "soft-spoken.”

Reporting from Hyderabad Deccan on February 29, 2012, another top Indian newspaper “The Hindu” had described how Tahirul Qadri’s Lincoln limousine had literally grabbed eyeballs.

“The Hindu” had stated: “A 30 foot-long Lincoln limousine attracted attention as it swished up the driveway at the Lake View guesthouse. Enquiries made, showed that the car with Ontario (Canada) registration plates, was made available for Pakistani writer Mohammed Tahir-ul Qadri. He is in the city on a week-long visit for meetings with the ‘Ulemas’ (Islamic Scholars). The 10-seater, white Lincoln 2005 has two 18 inch flat screen television sets, a DVD player, a satellite radio and a refrigerator. Other amenities in the luxury car include full-leather seats, hardwood floor and a cloth lining over the roof. The car has been in Hyderabad for a while now and is only taken out on special occasions. An attendant said that every time they needed to take it out, a day’s motor vehicle tax as applicable in Andhra Pradesh would have to be paid.”

According to Times of India, at Karjan where a sea of humanity had gathered to listen to noted Pakistani Islamic scholar Tahir-ul-Qadri, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi sent a special message wishing the success of the programme. Modi's message, which was read out before the gathering, appreciated Qadri's works.

State's junior home minister Praful Patel, too, reached the venue to attend the programme, while the organizers also appreciated efforts made by Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel.

Qadri informed the gathering that earlier when he had left Canada, he was issued permission for only a programme in Vadodara. "I thank the 'hukumat' of Hindustan (Government of India) for providing permissions for other places," he said. Later, he also showed an English version of Bhagwad Gita, which he referred to explain the message of peace.” 

When contacted, a public relations person close to Tahirul Qadri said, requesting anonymity, Qadri was being quoted out of context. 

Monitoring desk adds: In his Geo News programme “Naya Pakistan Talat Hussain Kay Saath”, Talat Hussain stated, “Today Tahirul Qadri is contending that the government is pro-Modi. The very Tahirul Qadri had praised Modi government in Gujarat in 2012. It may be recalled that the many countries including the US had imposed a travel ban on Modi after Muslims massacre in his state, but Qadri did not talk about it.”

Talat Hussain also played video clips featuring Tahirul Qadri praising Modi, eulogizing Indian democracy, degrading Pakistan’s democracy, and taking a neutral stance on Kashmir. 

Qadri, while addressing a sit-in, showed a photograph of Indian PM Modi and the Chinese president sitting on ground in the former’s Gujarat home. He said, “the prime minister and president of the region’s two big countries are there. Modi has made the Chinese president sit on the ground.”

Hurling “shame” on Pakistani rulers, Qadri said, pointing to the picture, “This is the democracy” and culture.  In another clip, Talat Hussain showed how Indian Muslims had demanded Modi be hanged for Muslims massacre.  

In yet another clip of Qadri’s interview with an Indian channel in March this year, he took a neutral stance on Indo-Pak issues. He said Pakistan accuses India of involvement in terrorism in Balochistan, Khyberpakhtoonkwa and Karachi while politicians from both countries level accusations. “But I will neither endorse Pakistan’s allegation, nor India’s. Pakistan-India enmity should come to an endand we should spend our capital on peace, education and poverty eradication. Kashmir issue should be resolved through dialogue with an open heart. I have come with a message of peace and love. Both countries should improve situation (so that) people of the two countries could travel easily. They have relatives in both countries. The visa policy should be such that they are not made to wait for hours and the bar of three-month visa is not there.”