Congress does not practice politics of minoritism: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram today rejected criticism that his party practiced politics of minoritism but asserted it cannot close its eyes to the discrimination against Muslims and other sections including Dalits.
He scoffed at the suggestion that Rahul Gandhi's recent visit to Kedarnath temple was an attempt at wooing Hindu votes to counter the perception about being pro-minorities.,
"It's a personal decision of a person. So why should there be any comment on that decision. I reject your question. There is no such thing as minoritism," Chidambaram told PTI in an interview.
"You are mixing the two issues. Before visiting the Kedarnath temple he said why he visited there. Kedarnath temple was being opened. The Chief Minister invited him to come on the day and I also felt an urge to visit a temple, he added.

The former Home Minister asserted that everybody in this country must be equal.
"We have just seen a report a few days ago a young man does not get a job because he is a Muslim. There is also a report that a young girl does not get a housing because she is a Muslim.
"If you want to close your eyes to these realities, you can do so but why should the Congress party close its eyes to the stark reality that there is discrimination against Muslims and some other sections also. There is discrimination against Dalits also," he said.

Chidambaram was responding to a question about a perception that politics of minoritism by Congress damaged it in the elections.