Pakistan-based Islamic scholar Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, who is on a tour to promote peace and religious tolerance, questioned the concept of plurality that has gone missing in Islam.

While delivering a speech at the Birla Matoshree, Qadri said, “Prophet Mohammed was the founder of pluralistic society. The first constitution that he formed in Medina was pluralistic and it gave equal rights to Muslims and non-Muslims. That time Jews were in majority and he advocated that as a nation all live like one community and single nation. He said Jews will have their own books and Muslims theirs. And it will be every Muslims right to protect non-Muslims and their religion. Where is that concept now?” asked Qadri.

More than 400 people attended the meet. There was heavy police bandobast as protest was carried out simultaneously by another Muslim socio-religious group, Raza Academy.

Earlier in the day, ruling out the possibility of any possible riots in Mumbai due to the lecture being delivered by Qadri, the Bombay high court observed that “it had full confidence in the public of India and they won’t be swayed or instigated.”

“Even after the verdict on Ayodhya issue, there was no untoward incident. People have now really become wise,” said the division bench of justice VM Kanade and justice PD Kode on Wednesday.