Be cautious of hostile forces: Minister

Asserting that the government was committed to empower minorities with dignity, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Saturday urged people to be cautious of hostile forces trying to disturb an atmosphere of trust and development.

"We have to remain cautious against these elements. Every section/community of the country is feeling a sense of trust and development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs said at a function here.

Naqvi said these forces were trying to disturb the atmosphere by creating a "fabricated atmosphere of insecurity".

He said the government's agenda was empowerment without appeasement, inclusive growth, and antyodaya.

"Sabka saath, sabka vikas (cooperation of all, development of all) is our basic agenda. There is no place for any discrimination against any religion, caste and community in this agenda," Naqvi said.

"Like all others, minorities are safe and secure in India," the Minister said.

"The minorities, Dalits, farmers, women and every other section, have played an equal role in nation-building. India's beauty is in our cultural heritage and social harmony. But some elements want to disturb this fabric. We all need to come together to defeat such elements. The Modi government will not allow any destructive agenda to dominate our developmental narrative."

Naqvi also accused certain opposition parties and their allies of trying to give a "communal colour to criminal incidents".

But they fail to understand that their acts will only provide a cover for persons involved in such incidents, the Minister said.

Saying that India was much ahead of other democratic countries in ensuring freedom of expression to its people, Naqvi cautioned that in the name of such freedom one should not do anything that helps elements inimical to national interests.

He said those unable to digest the developmental works carried out by the Modi government had become disappointed and desperate since they failed to find even a single logical issue against it.

"In their desperation, they are misusing religion as well as community and caste issues for narrow political interests. Earlier, these people raised the issue of so-called intolerance and launched 'award wapsi' (return of awards) campaign. Now, they are trying to disturb peace through political propaganda by raising the baseless issue of a sense of insecurity among members of a particular community," Naqvi added.

--IANS

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