On Monday, India’s Minister for Minority Affairs, Smriti Irani, embarked on a historic journey to Madinah, one of the holiest sites in Islam. In a social media post on X, Irani shared her experiences, expressing the significance of the visit to the sacred sites.
Undertook a historic journey to Madinah today, one of Islam's holiest cities included a visit to the periphery of the revered Prophet's Mosque, Al Masjid Al Nabwi, the mountain of Uhud, and periphery of the Quba Mosque – the first Mosque of Islam. The significance of the visit to… pic.twitter.com/WgbUJeJTLv
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) January 8, 2024
During her visit, Irani explored the periphery of the iconic Masjid-e-Nabwi, along with significant landmarks such as Uhud mountain and Masjid-e-Quba. Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan accompanied her on this pilgrimage.
In a statement, Irani highlighted the cultural and spiritual engagement facilitated by the Saudi officials, emphasizing the deep-rooted connections with early Islamic history. The visit comes as part of Irani’s two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, which also saw the signing of a bilateral Hajj agreement.
As per the agreement, a quota of 175,025 pilgrims has been allocated to India, with the majority being managed by the government. The delegation, during their visit, also interacted with volunteers who played a crucial role in assisting pilgrims during the 2023 Hajj season.
Smriti Irani, a former TV actress and producer turned politician, has steadily risen through the ranks of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is now one of its prominent faces. Notably, she defeated Rahul Gandhi to become the Member of Parliament from Amethi in the 2019 elections.
However, Irani’s political journey has not been without controversy. She has faced allegations regarding her educational qualifications and has been involved in headline-making incidents, including making remarks against India’s Muslim minority. Irani’s history of anti-Muslim remarks adds a layer of scrutiny to her visit to these sacred Islamic sites.
In May 2023, Irani praised the movie “Kerala Stories,” which depicted the forceful conversion of Hindu women to Islam and their alleged journey towards terrorist organizations. The movie coincided with a ‘love jihad’ campaign by right-wing elements in India, leading to widespread outrage. Irani, in response, called the film a ‘wake-up call’ and labeled anyone criticizing it as a ‘terrorist sympathizer.’
