New Delhi, November 21
Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, Saudi Ambassador Faisal-al-Trad and Justice Awn S Al-Khasawneh of the International Court of Justice today virtually snubbed former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani for being critical of Saudi Arabia's Wahhabi sect, the Panchsheel accord, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the proposal for the Iran-India gas pipeline through Pakistan.
While Moily said the Centre “entirely disagrees” with Jethmalani, the Saudi envoy walked out of the International Conference of Jurists. Justice Al-Khasawneh cautioned the former Law Minister against making sweeping comments and advised him to present only the facts.
Jethmalani, who was an early speaker at the inaugural session of the conference, did acknowledge that all religions had their share of terrorist elements, be it Islam, Hinduism or Buddhism. But Islam was primarily blamed for the menace, he said and went on to describe how Wahhab created a fundamentalist sect in Saudi Arabia in the 17th century following concern over the “decline of the Muslim world.” The sect went about launching attacks on other religions as well as the Shia sect of Islam.
He also advised India to pull out of NAM and join the forces of “good” to fight terrorism and come out of its commitment to China under the Panchsheel accord, besides calling off trade and other engagements with Pakistan. He also said those in favour of laying the Iran-India gas pipeline through Pakistan were enemies of the country and criticised New Delhi for being friendly with Saudi Arabia.
Moily and the Hague Judge addressed the two-day conference on terrorism after Jethmalani had made the remarks. Immediately after Jethmalani's comments, the Saudi envoy staged a walkout in protest but returned after Moily clarified that India firmly believed in NAM and “we entirely disagree” with the views of Jethmalani.
Justice Al-Khasawneh, in his address, said Jethmalani had got his details wrong. Wahhab belonged to the 18th century (1740s) and that the eminent lawyer should not make such sweeping statements, he said.
President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, who was the last to address the inaugural session, however, stuck to her prepared text, preferring to stay away from the controversy.
