India's new parliament building echoes with Surah Rahman recitation
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Modi has faced criticism in past for his bias against Muslim population in India
NEW DELHI (Web Desk) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new parliament building in the capital New Delhi, during which the verses of Surah Rahman were recited.
However, the inclusion of the recitation of Surah Rahman of the Holy Quran at the inauguration sparked a heated debate given Modi’s contentious history with the Muslim community.
Critics argue that this symbolic gesture alone does not absolve Modi from the larger allegations of religious discrimination that have dogged his tenure.
Beautiful recitation of Surah Rehman from Qur'an:pic.twitter.com/skenL0cAV7
— Suvardarshan News ️ (@SuvardarshanTV) May 28, 2023
Modi’s detractors point to incidents such as the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the handling of the 2002 Gujarat riots when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The event, which took place on Sunday, was boycotted by more than a dozen opposition parties, further accentuating the underlying tensions.
Modi, a staunch Hindu nationalist, has faced criticism in the past for his alleged bias against the Muslim population in India.
As the ceremony commenced, Hindu scholars performed traditional rituals and chanted religious hymns, setting a predominantly Hindu tone. However, the inclusion of Surah Rahman, one of the most revered Surahs in Islam, drew both surprise and criticism from various quarters.
Many opponents of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and members of the Muslim community accused the Prime Minister of attempting to create an optics-driven facade of inclusivity, thereby masking the persistent concerns regarding his stance towards Muslims.
