The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi is seeking stronger economic and trade relations with Saudi Arabia, says a senior member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and former union minister.

“We consider Saudi Arabia an important country in the Middle East and would like to strengthen our relations with it. Prime Minister Modi held talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman in Brisbane on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in November 2014,” Syed Shahnawaz Hussain told Arab News.

Hussain was here to meet Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar recently.

Asked whether Modi has any plans to visit Saudi Arabia to help enhance his image in the Islamic world tainted by anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat, the BJP leader said he does not have information about this. “It will be decided by the prime minister in consultation with the Foreign Ministry,” he added.

King Abdullah’s visit to New Delhi in 2006 marked a turning point in Saudi-Indian relations, Hussain said. “Since then, there has been tremendous progress in our ties. New joint ventures worth millions of dollars have been established. Modi focuses on economic and industrial development and his Made in India project offers excellent investment opportunities for Saudis.”

Hussain, chairman of the long-term Haj accommodation committee, commended the Saudi government’s services to the millions of pilgrims, including Indians, who come to perform Haj and Umrah. “Modi aims to have a zero-complaint Haj for Indian pilgrims, providing them with the best accommodation in Makkah and Madinah and ensuring Haj flights without delay,” he said.

“We are trying to conclude a five-year agreement for accommodation and the Saudi haj minister has agreed to study our proposal, which also aims at housing a large number of Indian pilgrims in huge buildings.”

The BJP leader said his party has disowned the anti-Muslim tirades made by some Hindu extremists. “We are against communalism. Modi has not made any statement against Muslims and other minorities. The BJP has strongly condemned the provocative statements. We have sent a show cause notice to Sakshi Maharaj, a Parliament member, for anti-Muslim rants,” he said.

Hussain, who has been a BJP member of Parliament from Bihar for 15 years, described the party as the most secular in India.

“All other so-called secular parties such as Congress have been paying lip service to Muslims without doing anything for their socio-economic upliftment. The Modi government treats all Indians equally, irrespective of their religion, caste and language.”

“I can assure you that Muslims are in Modi’s safe hands. There is no threat against Muslims in India and Modi is capable of handling all situations. Muslims have been the victims of Congress’ injustice for the last 50 years and Modi will ensure justice for them. The prime minister is confident about Indian Muslims’ patriotism. He has told CNN that Muslims will live and die for India,” Hussain said, while denying reports that Indian Muslims had joined the Islamic State terror group.