Minorities well protected under Modi govt : Naqvi

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Saturday said minority communities are well protected under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's NDA government than under the Congress dispensation in the past.

When Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, many parties had opposed him by saying that the minority community will be targeted and India's relations with Islamic countries will deteriorate. "But they have been proved wrong," the union minority affairs minister said at a series of election meetings at Salipur in Cuttack and Kendrapara.

"One-way of lies and narrow minded politics of some political parties has been demolished by the high-way of inclusive growth constructed by Modi who has become the architect of new India," he said.

These political parties have become panicky and restless after seeing the "high-way of development and trust constructed by Modi and are going to the people against him carrying "bunch of lies" every day, Naqvi said.

Modi, he said, has prepared the "high-way of inclusive growth for citizens of the country by demolishing the "speed breaker" of caste-religion-region and his governments policy of development without discrimination and empowerment without appeasement has made possible socio-economic empowerment of villages, farmers, poor, youths and women, he said.

"For the Modi government 130 crore Indians are all equals, free from governmental discrimination," he said.

India's relationship with Islamic countries has in fact strengthened in the last five years, Naqvi said adding countries like Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates have recognised Modi as a statesman and have conferred civilian awards.

Under Modi, the Centre has sent highest number of Haj pilgrims (two lakh) to Mecca this year, while Pakistan despite being a Muslim majority country sent 1.80 lakh for Haj pilgrimage.

The Centre received 700 haj pilgrimage applications from Odisha and sanctioned all of them, which has never been the case in the pasat, he said.

Narendra Modi stands for development and trust, he said and claimed that the interests of Muslims are best protected in BJP ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharastra as the Modi government stands for peace, harmony and development.

If BJP government stays in power in Delhi and comes to power in Odisha, minorities development in the state will be further expedited, he said.

The country is in safe hands under the leadership of Modi and the people of the country do not want "majboor sarkar" (weak government) they want "majbut sarkar (strong government) led by him, Naqvi added.