Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today termed the intelligentsia returning their awards as "long forgotten" and blamed BJP's "traditional and professional opponents" for trying to project an "atmosphere of intolerance" in the country.
"Failing to trace mistakes or corruption during the 17 months of Modi government, the traditional and professional opponents of BJP brought some long-forgotten scientists and artists to the forefront who are returning awards citing an atmosphere of intolerance and that the country is moving on the lines of Pakistan," the MoS for Minority Affairs said.
He said this after addressing a rally here on the occasion of 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
"In Pakistan common people are gunned down in mosques and public areas. Is anything like that happening here? Peace is prevailing in this country," the Union Minister said.
"To those who are returning their awards over an environment of fear and terror in the country, I would like to ask, if really that would have been the case, could they express themselves so freely as they are doing now," he said.
The Opposition talk about secularism, but when a terrorist is killed it is linked to religion, Naqvi said.
"Congress leader Salman Khurshid had said that following Batala house encounter in Delhi, party president Sonia Gandhi couldn't sleep the whole night," the Union Minister said.
He stated that at a time when leaders of African nations are in the country for India-Africa Summit and are pledging to pitch for India's permanent seat in the UNSC, we should present a face of unity before them.
