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dialogues between religious scholars and intellectuals in both countries
and the organization of conferences and seminars to promote values of
peace, tolerance, inclusiveness and welfare, inherent in all religions.”
The otherwise standard statement assumes importance if seen within
the context of the worldview of the signatories. ‘Tolerance and inclusive-
ness’ are not the expression one would generally associate with the Wahhabi
state and even the hardened friends of al-Saud would not rate highly on
these scores. When it comes to Shias and non-Muslims or even the People
of the Book or Dhimmis, the Wahhabi ideology is anything but tolerant.
The same compulsion is also visible in the Indian Prime Minister agree-
ing to the phrasing. Domestic critics have been accusing Modi of being
promiscuous in tolerating and hence facilitating vigilantism by Hindu
extremism within the country. For narrow electoral considerations, he has
been seen to be appeasing the Hindu electorates.^4 The absence of any
Muslim candidates in crucial state elections in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat
in 2017 was a glaring reminder, and the prime minister who was otherwise
hyperactive in the social media has been slow in responding to some of the
anti-Muslim vigilantism. The joint statement in Riyadh which praised ‘tol-
erance and inclusiveness’ underscored a distinct pattern and even dichot-
omy in Modi’s position; he has been ‘exclusive’ internally but ‘inclusive’
externally. While skipping Iftar parties hosted even by the president, Modi
has been visiting mosques during his foreign visits.^5
At some level, Modi’s religiosity has not been different from the al-
Sauds’, and protocols and diplomatic niceties have not inhibited him
from practising his beliefs and customs. For example, his maiden visit to
the US in September 2014 coincided with the navratri during which
some orthodox Hindus refrain from regular meals. During the nine-day
festivity Modi “eats only once selected fruit in the evening along with
lime juice. He will be avoiding grains and pulses” (Express Web Desk
2016a). Hence, the official ‘dinner’ hosted by President Barrack Obama
had to be tailored to suit Modi’s food demands, resulting in the First
Lady giving it a miss. Hence, referring to “shared civilizational ties (and)
common heritage,” the Indo-Saudi joint statement observed: “A broad
(^4) In the past, the Congress party has been accused of appeasing the Muslim population for
electoral considerations.
(^5) Accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in September 2017, Modi visited
the Sidi Saiyyed Mosque in September 2017, built in 1573. This was the first time Modi had
visited a mosque in India as prime minister (Amrita Ray 2017 ).
P. R. KUMARASWAMY AND MD. M. QUAMAR