Modi govt has made minorities equal partner in development:

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Thursday said the "appeasement politics" of the "secular syndicate" has hindered empowerment of minorities, particularly Muslims in the past but the BJP government has made them "equal partners" in development.

Inaugurating a meeting of the BJP Uttar Pradesh Minority Morcha, the Union minister for minority affairs said the Modi government has worked for minorities' "empowerment without appeasement" and their "development with dignity".

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to inclusive growth has ensured making the poor and weaker sections, including minorities "equal partners in the development process."

Naqvi said the present government's policy of "development with dignity and without discrimination" has ensured for the first time this year that a record 131 minority community youths, including 51 Muslims have been selected in civil services.

 

The representation of minorities in the central government jobs, which was just about 4.9 per cent in 2014, has now increased to 9.8 per cent, he said.

"We do not believe in the politics of dividing society. We believe in 'rashtraniti' (policy) of uniting it. Our 'rashtraniti' of inclusive growth has resulted in formation of the BJP and NDA governments in 20 states in last one and half years," he said.

The meeting, however, saw a commotion over some remarks by party MLC Bukkal Nawab. The legislator later told reporters that he had only said who would pray in a mosque at a disputed site in Ayodhya, even if it is built.

Naqvi said in the meeting that Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karykram has proved to be a milestone in socio-economic-educational empowerment of minorities and other weaker sections of the society.

For the first time after Independence, a campaign has been started on war-footing to provide basic amenities to ensure educational empowerment of minorities, particularly girls, in 308 districts across the country, he said.

Elaborating upon his remarks that the Minorities Morcha members had taken exception to in the meeting, MLC Nawab later said, "I had only tried to make them understand that as far as temple is concerned, it will be built in Ayodhya."

"If not in Ayodhya, will it be built in Pakistan or Afghanistan? This is the matter of belief of over 80 crore Hindus."

"And even if a mosque is built in Ayodhya, who will say prayers there as namaz is not allowed at a disputed site... this is what I said in the meeting," he stressed.

Meanwhile, talking on the sidelines of meeting, Naqvi described the Opposition as a "bhanumati ka kunba" (an incompatible family), trying to strike an electoral alliance just to grab power.

Ever since they have lost power, they are desperately longing for it, he quipped.