National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Tuesday said India has been a melting pot of cultures and religions that have co-existed in harmony for centuries, and Islam occupies a unique and significant "position of pride" amongst the religious groups in the country.
Mr Doval's remarks came during an event here at the India Islamic Cultural Centre where Muslim World League Secretary General Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, who is on an India visit, also addressed the gathering.
Mr Doval hailed Al-Issa as an authentic global voice of moderate Islam and a profound scholar with a deep understanding of Islam.
Hailing the "excellent" relations between India and Saudi Arabia, Mr Doval said the ties were rooted in shared cultural heritage, common values and economic ties.
"Our leaders share a common vision for the future and have been closely interacting with each other," the National Security Advisor said.
In his remarks, Mr Doval said India as the world's largest democracy and the mother of democracies is a land of incredible diversity.
"In your (Al-Issa) talk you elaborately mentioned diversity as a fundamental trait of our existence. It (India) has been a melting pot of cultures, religions, languages and ethnicities that have co-existed in harmony for centuries. As an inclusive democracy, India has successfully managed to provide space for all its citizens regardless of their religious, ethnic and cultural identities," he said.
"Amongst its numerous religious groups, Islam occupies a unique and significant position of pride with India being home to the second largest Muslim population in the world," he said.
To give an idea of the scale we are talking about, India's Muslim population is almost equal to the combined population of over 33 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr Doval added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Ajit Doval, Reportedly Carrying Ukraine Peace Plan, Meets Vladimir Putin Bangladesh Star, Who Impressed Against Pakistan, Ruled Out Of India Series Ajit Doval Meets Top Russian Diplomat On Sidelines Of BRICS Conclave AAP Asks Its Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal To Quit Over Atishi Remarks LIVE: Arvind Kejriwal Resigns, Atishi To Be Delhi Chief Minister "Your Duty...": Chief Justice On Bengal's 'No Night Shift For Women' Note Giorgia Meloni's Far-Right Ally Raffaele Fitto Gets Top European Union Role Class 11 Student On Way To Coaching Centre Raped In UP: Police Pics: Supercars Line Up At The World's Largest Temple, Tourists Stunned Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.