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Several parts of India witnessed violent protests on June 10 over controversial remarks made by former BJP functionaries Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal last month. The remarks also invited severe criticism from some Gulf countries. The situation in several parts of the country remains tense and fluid. Union minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqviin an interview to Kumar Shakti Shekhar, said the BJP was quick in taking action against Sharma and Jindal and blamed the Congress and others for vitiating the atmosphere of the country. On his political future, he left it to the BJP to decide. Excerpts:
Q: What do you have to say about the reaction of Muslim countries to the derogatory remarks made by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Delhi BJP media head Naveen Kumar Jindal against Prophet Muhammad?
The first thing to understand is that the propaganda of Al Qaeda or Pakistan is not for the safety and security of Muslims but to create problems for them. You can see the history of these entities. Pakistan today is a safe haven of terrorist organizations. The cruelties against the minorities and their killings are not hidden from the world. Unfortunately, those who talk about selective religious rights and human rights ignore collective communalism. They ignore anarchy and terrorism wherever they are flourishing.
As far as India is concerned, if some individual has said something, the party has immediately taken a decision. But how can an individual’s remark be associated with the world? And how can it be the view of India and the government?
About 400 TV channels are running in this country – they include national channels, regional channels and language channels. Every kind of person keeps making all types of remarks throughout the day in the debates and discussions. I feel it is wrong to make an impression about India based on this. It is not India’s culture to accept any derogatory remarks against gods, goddesses or prophet.
Q: While taking action against Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, the BJP called them fringe elements while the fact is that they were the party’s spokespersons.
I do not have to say anything on this. But I surely felt sorry for the Congress when it said that the BJP’s fringe is its core. Basically, BJP’s fringe is not the core. But I can surely see the height of the Congress’s foolishness. While becoming the champions of secularism, the Congress has now become an epitome of communalism. They are not able to understand what they should do if some conspiracy is being hatched against the country. Should they sing the same tune or oppose it?
Our country believes in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The world is one family). We talk about ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah Sarve Santu Niramaya’ (May everyone be happy). This is our culture and tradition. India is a country where people of all faiths, and even atheists, live peacefully. There are more than 3 lakh active mosques in the country. The same number of Muslim religious places also exist. Similarly, there are churches and gurudwaras.
Q: It is being alleged that Muslims in India are being targeted and witch-hunted. What do you say as a Union minorities affairs minister?
We will have to talk about Pakistan here. We will have to take into account what happened in India and Pakistan after partition. Minorities – including Hindus, Sikhs and Christians – constituted 24 per cent of Pakistan’s population after partition. Today, the population of the minorities in Pakistan has shrunk to just above 1 per cent.
However, in India the population of minorities was 8 per cent just after the partition. Today, this number has shot up to above 23 per cent – may be 25-26 per cent. Moreover, the constitutional, religious, social, economic and educational rights of the minorities are well-protected.
Q: Besides Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal, others who have been booked by the Delhi Police for hate speech include journalist Saba Naqvi and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi. What is the message that the government wants to convey?
Anyone who is involved in such activities of ‘hate ki hatric aur nafrat ki no ball’ needs to be isolated. Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014, he has been the biggest sufferer of political lynching. The mountain of truth has been tried to be hidden by a shrub of lies (‘jhooth ke jhaad se sach ke pahaad ko chhupane ki koshish ki gayi’) In these eight years. His tenure has been of development with dignity, empowerment without appeasement. No section of society can complain that Modiji has discriminated against it.
Q: The BJP suspended Nupur Sharma and expelled Naveen Jindal only after objections were raised by a few Gulf countries. Was the BJP against taking any action against the two?
I do not have to say anything about it. It is the party’s decision.
Q: After being named in an FIR by the Delhi Police, Owaisi said his crime had not been specified and he had been wrongly booked. Do you agree with him?
He wears secular sherwani but he is involved in communal karistani (deeds). He sows seeds of hatred. He has been exposed just like the grand old party.
Q: Your Rajya Sabha term has expired but the BJP did not renominate you. The party did not field you as a candidate for either Rampur or Azamgarh Lok Sabha bypolls to be held on June 23. You can remain a minister for only six months. What is your political future? Will you be contesting the July 18 presidential election or will you be made a governor of some state?
I have been active in politics since the age of 17 when I was jailed during the Emergency in 1975. I am 64 now. I have always been a committed worker of the BJP. My fate will be decided by the party and I will accept whatever role is assigned to me.
Q: What do you have to say about the reaction of Muslim countries to the derogatory remarks made by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Delhi BJP media head Naveen Kumar Jindal against Prophet Muhammad?
The first thing to understand is that the propaganda of Al Qaeda or Pakistan is not for the safety and security of Muslims but to create problems for them. You can see the history of these entities. Pakistan today is a safe haven of terrorist organizations. The cruelties against the minorities and their killings are not hidden from the world. Unfortunately, those who talk about selective religious rights and human rights ignore collective communalism. They ignore anarchy and terrorism wherever they are flourishing.
As far as India is concerned, if some individual has said something, the party has immediately taken a decision. But how can an individual’s remark be associated with the world? And how can it be the view of India and the government?
About 400 TV channels are running in this country – they include national channels, regional channels and language channels. Every kind of person keeps making all types of remarks throughout the day in the debates and discussions. I feel it is wrong to make an impression about India based on this. It is not India’s culture to accept any derogatory remarks against gods, goddesses or prophet.
Q: While taking action against Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, the BJP called them fringe elements while the fact is that they were the party’s spokespersons.
I do not have to say anything on this. But I surely felt sorry for the Congress when it said that the BJP’s fringe is its core. Basically, BJP’s fringe is not the core. But I can surely see the height of the Congress’s foolishness. While becoming the champions of secularism, the Congress has now become an epitome of communalism. They are not able to understand what they should do if some conspiracy is being hatched against the country. Should they sing the same tune or oppose it?
Our country believes in ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The world is one family). We talk about ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah Sarve Santu Niramaya’ (May everyone be happy). This is our culture and tradition. India is a country where people of all faiths, and even atheists, live peacefully. There are more than 3 lakh active mosques in the country. The same number of Muslim religious places also exist. Similarly, there are churches and gurudwaras.
Q: It is being alleged that Muslims in India are being targeted and witch-hunted. What do you say as a Union minorities affairs minister?
We will have to talk about Pakistan here. We will have to take into account what happened in India and Pakistan after partition. Minorities – including Hindus, Sikhs and Christians – constituted 24 per cent of Pakistan’s population after partition. Today, the population of the minorities in Pakistan has shrunk to just above 1 per cent.
However, in India the population of minorities was 8 per cent just after the partition. Today, this number has shot up to above 23 per cent – may be 25-26 per cent. Moreover, the constitutional, religious, social, economic and educational rights of the minorities are well-protected.
Q: Besides Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal, others who have been booked by the Delhi Police for hate speech include journalist Saba Naqvi and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi. What is the message that the government wants to convey?
Anyone who is involved in such activities of ‘hate ki hatric aur nafrat ki no ball’ needs to be isolated. Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014, he has been the biggest sufferer of political lynching. The mountain of truth has been tried to be hidden by a shrub of lies (‘jhooth ke jhaad se sach ke pahaad ko chhupane ki koshish ki gayi’) In these eight years. His tenure has been of development with dignity, empowerment without appeasement. No section of society can complain that Modiji has discriminated against it.
Q: The BJP suspended Nupur Sharma and expelled Naveen Jindal only after objections were raised by a few Gulf countries. Was the BJP against taking any action against the two?
I do not have to say anything about it. It is the party’s decision.
Q: After being named in an FIR by the Delhi Police, Owaisi said his crime had not been specified and he had been wrongly booked. Do you agree with him?
He wears secular sherwani but he is involved in communal karistani (deeds). He sows seeds of hatred. He has been exposed just like the grand old party.
Q: Your Rajya Sabha term has expired but the BJP did not renominate you. The party did not field you as a candidate for either Rampur or Azamgarh Lok Sabha bypolls to be held on June 23. You can remain a minister for only six months. What is your political future? Will you be contesting the July 18 presidential election or will you be made a governor of some state?
I have been active in politics since the age of 17 when I was jailed during the Emergency in 1975. I am 64 now. I have always been a committed worker of the BJP. My fate will be decided by the party and I will accept whatever role is assigned to me.
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