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Away from the hype of aborted India-Pakistan NSA level talk, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aides are quietly working on his visit to Saudi Arabia, the most influential Islamic country. Though the dates have not been finalised as yet but considering the fact that the far reaching implications this trip can have, both politically and economically, the official and unofficial channels are attaching a great deal of significance to it.

Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia could perhaps be the biggest headline grabbing story of the year, as and when it happens in coming months. A person closely involved with informal level of contacts between the Arab world and PMO said “Modi’s trip to Saudi Arabia will have tremendous impact. This is going to be an ultimate masterstroke. Desh me jabardast message hoga. Just wait and see.” India and Saudi Arabia hold cordial bilateral relations and Manmohan Singh had visited there in 2010 (after a gap of 28 years by any Indian PM) “but with Modi, things are beyond doubt going to be special”, he said.

After Modi’s hugely successful trip to UAE, his aides and BJP leaders expectations from his proposed tour to Saudi Arabia have gone up and they have their reasons for that.

Saudi Arabian king Salman Bin Abdulaziz and Modi have already struck a personal rapport. Two of them met in November 2014 on the sidelines of G20 meeting in Brisbane, Abdulaziz was then Saudi's crown prince and is the King now. He called Modi as “friend of friendly nations”. That bonding could reflect in many ways when Modi visits there.
Modi had received the warmest possible reception in Dubai and Abu Dhabi by Emirates rulers as also an assurance of investment of Rs four and half crores by Abu Dhabi’s crown prince.

BJP leaders believe that the Arab world rulers have huge sense of trade and investment, something where Modi too excels as a leader is helping them to find a natural bonding.

A source said “During PM Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia a matching reception (like he had in UAE) from the king and investment promise of same or possibly of greater magnitude from the King."

There appears to be an irresistible urge between him and Arab world leaders to discover each other. A few months back Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani had visited New Delhi. Two days External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj traveled to Egypt and was conscious to point out that strength of relations with Palestine and Arab nations would not be affected by India's relations with Israel. There are reports that Modi has accepted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's invitation to visit Tehran when the two leaders met on the sidelines of the BRICS/SCO summit in Russia. The Prime Minister will also be going to Turkey to attend G-20 summit in November.

Zafar Sareshwala, Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University and Modi's trusted point person for his informal outreach to the Muslim world says, “They have the capital and we have avenues of investment. In Modi, they see a strong leader who has a positive outlook for business and industry. He also has the keenness to take India and its people to a higher level of growth and development. during his travels to the gulf countries I have found that the ruling class, business community and intelligentia are hugely interested to know more of Modi. It’s a known fact that they are a surplus economy. In Modi’s leadership they find that much needed trust and belief which could make them inclined to invest.”

The trip to Saudi Arabia gains political or social significance because the Indian Muslim community look up to the Arab world for religious and spiritual guidance as also of monetary support for social, cultural and educational purposes. Islamic institutions like madrassas and a whole lot of NGOs thrive on donations offered by Arab countries. Since Saudi Arabia is home to Mecca and Medina, it has a very special place in minds of believers of Islam. More so, a huge number of Indians around 28 lakh, mostly Muslims are in Saudi Arabia. That’s the largest expatriate population of that country.

Saudi is also India’s largest supplier of crude, accounting for almost one fifth of its needs, as also the fourth largest trading partner. In October last year, Modi had sent Dharmendra Pradhan, union minister for petroleum and natural gas for improving business relations in oil sector.

There is possibility that he might travel beyond Saudi capital Riyadh to Jeddah, which is termed as gateway to Mecca, and have some important engagements there. But since there are no dates as yet there can’t be itinerary but all this is being informally discussed.

Whether Modi’s special friendship with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries leaders have any bearing in changing the perception of Muslim community domestically in the longer run is a million dollar question. Its hazardous to make any guesses at the moment but the emerging situations could throw up intense debates and interesting possibilities. His visit to Sheikh Zyed Grand Mosque in Dubai unleashed wide-ranging debates, both within and outside of Muslim community in India.

An official functionary requesting anonymity said “Modi has gone beyond RSS grooves and become a world leader.”