Shabbir Ali expresses grief over King Abdullah’s demise

Hyderabad, Jan 23 (INN): Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Vice-President Mohammed Ali Shabbir has condoled the death of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Conveying his heartfelt condolences to the Saudi Government, Royal family and people of Saudi Arabia, Shabbir Ali described the demise of King Abdullah as a major loss to the Islamic world. He said King Abdullah had maintained exemplary and most affectionate relationship with India. He was the first Saudi monarch to have visited India in 51 years as the Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day parade on January 26, 2006 during the Congress-led UPA regime.

The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh waived protocol and received King Abdullah at the airport. The “Delhi Declaration” was also signed between India and Saudi Arabia during the four-day visit. His visit had led to the beginning of a new era in India-Saudi Arabia relations, he said in a media statement here on Friday.

The former minister said that King Abdullah has made huge contribution in various fields, especially the education, energy, economy, health and infrastructure. His notable achievements included the launch of four mega economic cities, the creation of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the Princess Nourah bint Abdul Rahman University for Girls. He was always concerned about the protection of Arab and Islamic issues and has made huge contribution in the areas of world peace, stability and security. He also promoted dialogue among the world’s leading faiths. His initiatives have resulted in the convention of the World Conference on Dialogue in Madrid, Spain and a United Nations conference on dialogue in 2008, he said.

Shabbir Ali said King Abdullah also held several international summits in Saudia Arabia on various important issues.

“Being the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah has launched the largest expansion of the Grand Mosque in history in August 2011 at a cost of Rs SR 80 billion. It has increased the mosque’s capacity to more than 25 lakh worshippers,” Shabbir Ali said and added that King Abdullah’s contribution to the Islamic world would be remembered forever.