Union minister Najma Heptulla today said BJP's win in Assam Assembly polls suggested rising confidence of the minorities in the party because of the NDA government's public welfare schemes.
As compared to UPA, the NDA government made available more funds for the welfare of six minority communities in the country and focus is being laid on the execution of the schemes meant for them, Heptulla said while speaking to reporters.
"The fear among minorities has definitely gone down and confidence has been developed. Confidence building takes some time.
"The focus of the Narendra Modi government is mainly on sab ka sath, sab ka vikas (inclusive growth). And the Assam Assembly poll result suggests that confidence is building among people," Heptulla said.
She said the NDA government is engaged in "politics of development" unlike the "politics of division" of rival parties and BJP will be able to do well in the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and other states too.
She said the NDA government made available 18.4 per cent more funds under the multi-sectoral development programme (MSDP) for minorities as compared to UPA.
In 2012-13 and 2013-14, the UPA government had released Rs 641.26 crore and Rs 953.21 crore, respectively, for MSDP. The NDA government gave Rs 767.86 crore in 2014-15 and Rs 1120.34 crore for 2015-16, she said.
"So, we have accomplished both qualitative and quantitative achievements. By qualitative achievement we mean the confidence building among minorities, while quantitative achievement is the number of children benefited," she said.
