Cultural, social harmony must for development: Naqvi

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Tuesday said that India's cultural and social harmony is the "password of progress".

"Development in the country cannot be ensured without ensuring cultural and social harmony," the minister said while addressing the annual conference of state Minority Commissions here at Vigyan Bhavan.

He said the Narendra Modi government is committed to strengthen the social and communal harmony in the country.

"No negative agenda will be allowed to dominate our development agenda. Our commitment to inclusive growth has created a strong atmosphere of trust and development among all sections of the society, including minorities," the Union minister said.

Naqvi also claimed that there has been a significant decline in communal incidents during past two and a half years of the NDA rule.

"Empowerment without appeasement policy of the government has created an atmosphere where minorities are also becoming a part of development process in the country," Naqvi said.

Naqvi said that be it internal security, economy, communal harmony, nation's borders, all are absolutely safe under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He also said that any conspiracy against development agenda will not be allowed to succeed.

"The terror forces and their supporters who are working against India's security will be defeated at any cost," he added.

--IANS

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