India home to second largest population of Muslims in world: President Murmu

New Delhi: India, as a multi-cultural and multi-religious society, celebrates unity in diversity and its over 200 million Muslims make the country the second largest population of the community in the world, President Droupadi Murmu said on Wednesday.

Welcoming Muslim World League Secretary General Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, who had called on the president at Rashtrapati Bhavan here, Murmu said India appreciates the role and objectives of the Muslim World League in promoting tolerant values, moderation of consciousness and inter-faith dialogue.

She stated that India, as a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, celebrates unity in diversity, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

"Our more than 200 million Indian Muslim brothers and sisters make us the country with the second largest population of Muslims in the world," the president said.

Murmu said India attaches great importance to its relationship with Saudi Arabia.

She said both the countries condemn terrorism in its all forms and are calling for "zero tolerance" against terrorism.

"The two leaders agreed that there is a need for a holistic approach to counter terrorism and violent extremism, and this is possible only by engaging with moderate schools of thoughts," the statement said.

The president also appreciated Al-Issa’s stand against extremism, terrorism and violence.

She expressed confidence that his visit to India would provide more avenues for collaboration with the Muslim World League.

The two countries have a longstanding history of amicable relations rooted in trade and people-to-people ties, the president said.

"Both our countries have valuable teachings to share with the world," she added.

Al-Issa is on his first official visit to India. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.