BJP ally Akali Dal today made it clear that there should be no interference with one's religious beliefs or eating habits, in comments in the midst of a raging debate over controversies on beef and climate of intolerance.
"I totally agree that in a democratic country like us, nobody should interfere with anybody else's religious beliefs and eating habits but at the same time being sensible to another person's religion," Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said.
Speaking at the 'National Strategy Day on India' organised by the World Economic Forum (WEF)/and industry body CII here, the minister blamed 'certain forces' for not being able to see the progress of India and digest the work the government is doing.
"What they are doing in Parliament, the same is being done on the road to ensure that the image of the country comes down on sporadic incidents (related to law and order). It is being done by those set of people who are not able to digest the work the government is doing," she said.
Reacting to criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence amid writers and artists speaking out against instances of rising intolerance, she said: "I don't understand why the Prime Minister of a country should speak when someone demands it."
On allegations that the government is not pulling up BJP leaders, who are making divisive comments, Badal wondered why it should be done in public to satisfy certain section who "finds fault with everything that is being done".
Expressing similar sentiments, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari blamed a "section of media" and politicians "who are already against the BJP and ideology" wanting to "create confusion in the minds of people".
Responding to Congress' criticism, he said: "During Emergency many people were jailed and in 1984, many (Congress) party members were involved in Sikh massacare... Shaitan Bible bol raha hai aise baat hoti (It is like the devil reading out the Bible).
