Mohammad Mansoor honoured with Hind Ratan Award
NRI Businessman honoured with the highest annual award by NRI Welfare Society of India
New Delhi : Mohammad Mansoor, founder of Exelon and Saara Group, was honoured Hind Ratan Award by the NRI Welfare Society of India at the 38th International Congress of NRIs on the eve of the 70th Republic Day in New Delhi. The congress is held annually in association with the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations.
Mansoor is among the pioneers who supported the sports and media initiatives in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He also introduced the first franchise based T20 Premier Cricket League, following the format of Indian Premier League, in the Kingdom of Bahrain under the patronage of Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa in 2018. The initiative was critically supported by the legends of the sport and Bollywood celebrities.
The initiatives by Mohammad Mansoor brought together leading investors, celebrities, members of the film fraternity and sports from India to support the initiatives by the Royal Family of Bahrain towards the growth of sports and media industry in the region. His presence and support towards Brave Combat Federation which is the fastest growing Mixed Martial Arts organisation in the world found by Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and operated by Mohammed Shahid are also recognised among the global sports community.
One of the leading businessmen in Bahrain, Mansoor is the Chairman & CEO of SAARA Group, who heads a series of ventures and organisations spread across the domains of Information Technology, Energy, Media, Oil & Gas, Sports Initiatives, Seed Capital Investments, and Social Initiatives. Exelon is among his most ambitious initiatives which are spread across the Kingdom of Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and India. Exelon serves SABIC & ARAMCO apart from bringing multiple investment initiatives to the Kingdom of Bahrain. This includes SMEXINDO and facilitating the development of projects leading to Garuda City from Indonesia and global initiatives. Mansoor is also a member of Bahrain India Society, patron of Bahrain Kannada Sangha and the patron of Indian Club, Bahrain.
“I am humbled by the love and recognition which is a pillar of strength to each of my initiatives. I firmly believe that it is the duty of expatriates as global citizens to support progressive initiatives in the region where they operate. This will have a significant impact on the way the world perceives India and Indians. I am honoured by the Hind Ratan Award from the NRI Welfare Society of India, and this motivates me to strengthen my initiatives in the region and towards multiple projects which will add value towards the NRI community in the region by being a part of multiple progressive initiatives by the Kingdom of Bahrain”, said Mohammad Mansoor.
Mohammad Mansoor represented the Indian business community in Bahrain by being one among the entourage of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during his official visit to India.
(With His Majesty KING HAMAD BIN ISA AL KHALIFA, King of Kingdom of Bahrain)
(Presenting the cricket bat to H.H. Shaikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa on Bahrain’s 1st Cricket Premier league)
(With Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain)
(With Crown Prince H.H. Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa)
(With Mohammad Shahid , CEO of Brave Combat Federation , and Mohammad Arayyed)
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MP minister's veiled remark on Col Sofia Qureshi sparks major row; he apologises, Cong seeks ouster
Bhopal/Indore, May 13 (PTI): Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah has sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Col Sofia Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists."
Under severe flak, Shah said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise ten times, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.
The Congress has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Shah from the Madhya Pradesh cabinet.
Colonel Qureshi had conducted regular press briefings, sharing details of the 'Operation Sindoor' launched by Indian armed forces to strike terrorists, joined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
"Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)..We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them," Shah said.
"They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists') sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They (terrorists) made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson", the BJP leader said while addressing a gathering in Ramkunda village near Indore.
He said, "Revenge was taken for the honour of our country (India), respect, and for the (slain) husbands of our sisters by sending a sister from your (terrorists') community to Pakistan".
The tribal welfare minister clarified that his remarks should not be construed otherwise.
Shah's remarks drew wide-scale condemnation, with Congress demanding his immediate dismissal from the MP cabinet.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said Shah, who made 'derogatory' remarks in reference to Colonel Sofia Qureshi, should be dismissed immediately.
"A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during the entire 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists," Kharge posted on X.
He alleged that the BJP-RSS harbours an anti-women mentality.
"First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was trolled on social media, then the daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was harassed, and now the BJP ministers are making such indecent comments about our brave woman Sophia Qureshi," Kharge said and appealed to PM Modi to immediately sack Shah.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari shared the video of Shah on X and asked whether the BJP agrees with the minister's "low thinking"?
The MP Congress Committee alleged that Shah's "indecent' and hate-filled" statement is not just a personal attack, but an open attack on India's military dignity, national unity, and women's honour.
Amid the raging controversy, the BJP's Madhya Pradesh general secretary Hitanand Sharma summoned Shah to the state headquarters in Bhopal.
According to sources, Sharma reprimanded the minister, who also met the state BJP president, Vishnu Dutt Sharma.
Speaking to reporters, Shah sought to attribute the intemperate remarks to his "disturbed" state of mind in view of the brutal killing of innocent people in Pahalgam by terrorists.
He claimed many members of his family have a military background and many were martyred.
"Sister Sophia has brought glory to India by rising above caste and religion. She is more respected than our own sister. I salute her for her service to the nation.
"We cannot even think of insulting her in our dreams. Still, if my words have hurt society and religion, then I am ready to apologise ten times,'' he added.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manoj Shukla and the party workers blackened the nameplate of Shah at his bungalow and raised slogans seeking his resignation.
'हमारी सेना की जांबाज बेटियां आतंकवादियों की बहन हैं'
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 13, 2025
- ये घटिया बात मध्य प्रदेश में BJP सरकार के मंत्री विजय शाह ने कही है।
भारत की जिन बेटियों पर सबको नाज है, उन बेटियों को लेकर ये शर्मनाक बयान दिया गया है। उन्हें आतंकवादियों की बहन बताया गया है।
ये हमारी पराक्रमी सेना का… pic.twitter.com/y591M3ky8G
