A spokesperson in the MEA said it was for the first time, India has been invited to an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting as guest of honour. The 46th Session of the OIC's Council of Foreign Ministers will be held in Abu Dhabi from March 1 to 2. OIC condemned India 5 times in 2018: Owaisi slams Modi govt for accepting invitation

In a first and strategically significant move, India has been invited to the inaugural plenary of the foreign ministers' conclave of the OIC, a powerful grouping of Muslim majority nations, in Abu Dhabi next month and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will attend it as the 'guest of honour'.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called the invitation a "welcome recognition" of the presence of 185 million Muslims in India and of their contribution to its pluralistic ethos, and of India's contribution to the Islamic world. 

A spokesperson in the MEA said it was for the first time, India has been invited to an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting as guest of honour. The 46th Session of the OIC's Council of Foreign Ministers will be held in Abu Dhabi from March 1 to 2.

Reacting, MIM leader Asasduddin Owaisi wrote: “OIC condemns India 5 times in 2018, calls our security operation ‘wicked terrorist act’ & we’re happy to be hosted by them?! We used to have a foreign policy, now @PMOIndia @SushmaSwaraj have replaced it with whatever floundering, fumbling thing this is.”

1. Cong Express Surprise

Congress on Saturday has expressed surprise that the central government was "euphoric" about being invited to participate in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) stating that the government was misleading people.

Talking exclusively with ANI, Congress leader Anand Sharma said, "The invitation is rather surprising. There is nothing to be euphoric."

Noting that India was invited at the original conference in Rabat in 1969 but was removed, Sharma said, "India had refused any invitation thereafter, particularly the observer status. India has maintained that being the original invitee and a country with a very large Muslim population, it's important that OIC grants India full status member."

"OIC charter states any country with a conflict with a member won't be given that status. There are issues that need clarity, particularly vis-a-vis Pakistan in OIC resolution on Kashmir. At this time, the government of India accepting it happily and trying to mislead the nation is not acceptable Congress objects to India's participation at OIC," he said.

2. Invitation During Pulwama Terror Attack

The invitation to India by the OIC comes at a time when India has been mounting diplomatic offensive against Pakistan to isolate it internationally following the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

The OIC has usually been supportive of Pakistan and, often sided with Islamabad on the Kashmir issue.

The MEA said Foreign Minister of United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan invited Swaraj as the 'guest of honour' to address the inaugural plenary and that India was happy to accept the invitation. 

3. Milestone In Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership With The UAE

"We see this invitation as the desire of the enlightened leadership of the UAE to go beyond our rapidly growing close bilateral ties and forge a true multifaceted partnership at the multilateral and international level," the MEA said in a release. 

"We see this invitation as a milestone in our comprehensive strategic partnership with the UAE. We also see this invitation as a welcome recognition of the presence of 185 million Muslims in India and of their contribution to its pluralistic ethos, and of India's contribution to the Islamic world," it said.

4. OIC Is A Grouping of 57 Countries

India is, therefore, happy to accept the invitation and thanked the leadership of the UAE for it, the ministry said. OIC is a grouping of 57 countries, majority of which are Muslim majority.

Last year, Bangladesh proposed restructuring of the charter of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to pave way for the inclusion of non-Muslim countries like India as an "observer state" of the 50-year old grouping.

Source>>