Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today said the issue of national security should not be politicised but "appeasement" of terrorists and terrorist organisations was happening for vote-bank politics.
The minister was responding to a question on the alleged political link of suspected ISI agents who were arrested in the city two days back.
"For the sake of vote bank politics the situation today is that appeasement of terrorists and terrorist organisations is happening, which is not good. On the question of country's security, there is no scope for politics," the Union Transport Minister said.
He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the AGM of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce
"We have to fight terrorism collectively and globally; even Muslim countries are fighting against terrorism... specially Pakistan, which after being defeated in the past three wars started a proxy war to destabilise our unity," he said.
Speaking about intolerance, Gadkari emphasised that his government's aim is development for all ('Sabka ka saath, sabka vikas').
He claimed that Congress was levelling unfounded allegations against BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which "it is doing intentionally to create a sense of fear in a community for the sake of votes".
"Unfortunatley, even in Parliament allegations are being made against the Home Minister, which are not true. Whatever happened had happened in the states which are not BJP ruled and law and order is a state subject. Even then the blame is on BJP," Gadkari said.
Without taking the name of CPI(M) MP Md Salim, Gadkari said, "Whoever has levelled the allegation against the Home Minister yesterday in Parliament, either prove it or resign. Parliament should not be a place for unfounded allegations.
Gadkari said, "We are confident that the green highways
project will go a long way in reinforcing India's commitment made in CoP 21 summit for reducing carbon emissions up to 35 per cent by 2030 from 2005 levels and develop additional carbon sink of 2.5 billion tonnes through green cover outside forests."
He said that unfortunately, not much emphasis was given on the greening of highways earlier.
"Farmers can join hands with the government under this initiative and open their nursery. Waste land will be converted into green forest," the minister said.
He said a pilot project to provide a canopy of bamboo on "one-km highway stretch" in Nagpur is also being planned.
He also said the government plans to set up 1,300 roadside amenities which will house restaurants, washrooms and helipads and have local cuisine and cultural parks to showcase local produce.
NHAI Chairman Raghav Chandra said: "We have set aside 1 per cent of our project cost for transplantation, plantation, beautification and maintenance."
He added that 10 start-ups have initially shown interest.
The programme will be replicated on non-NHAI roads as well, according to Highways Secretary Sanjay Mitra.
The Green Highways Mission Director A K Bhattacharyya said initially PwC, IOC and Coal India have shown interest to adopt some highways.
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For the Haryana government, state's Principal Chief
Conservator of Forests Amarinder Kaur signed the MoU while Chief General Manager, NHAI, MK Jain signed on behalf of the NHAI.
Appreciating Haryana Gadkari said the state government has shown keen interest and had decided to bear all kind of expenses towards environment conservation.
He also suggested the state government to prepare a scheme for beautification and planting greenery along the eastern and western peripheral roads passing outside Delhi.
Responding to the suggestion, Haryana Public Works (Building and Roads) Minister Rao Narbir Singh said the state government would consider working on this scheme.
