BJP secular, Congress communal: Rijiju slams Oppn
Calling the BJP “secular” and the Congress “most communal”, Union minister Kiren Rijiju lashed out at opposition parties on Friday for questioning the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar and accused them of playing politics in the name of minorities.
The minority affairs minister said there is no country in the world that gives as much facilities to minorities as India does and asserted that all citizens are treated equally here.
Asked about claims made by certain leaders that the Elections Commission’s (EC) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar is aimed against minorities, Rijiju said, “I only want to say that there are six minority communities in the country. Repeatedly, the Congress and some other parties try to instill fear among minorities. They should not try to mislead the minorities.” Minority communities in India comprise Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists, he said, adding that all of them get the same facilities that the majority Hindus get.
“Minorities are also given additional protection and facilities. There is no country in this world that gives so much facilities to minorities. The politics being played in the name of minorities to take political advantage is not right,” Rijiju said.
The way the Congress and some parties have treated Muslims like a vote bank for the last 75 years, that should stop, the parliamentary affairs minister said.
“This is harmful for Muslims while the Congress benefits. The Congress scores political benefits by using Muslims as a vote bank. The Congress ensured that Muslims remain poor, now they should not shout ‘Muslim, Muslim’ and insult them,” he said.