'Narendra Modi government did more good for Muslims than Congress'

Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has claimed that the Narendra Modi government has done more for Indian Muslims and other minorities in the last six years compared with Congress rule since IndependenceHe said that while the Ministry of Minority Affairs was seen as a parttime portfolio during the earlier Congress rule it was now a fulltime Ministry in the Modi governmentThe Modi government did away with the policy of minority appeasement and instead worked towards sabka saath sabka vikas and sabka faith Naqvi said in an exclusive interview with IANSThe avenues of appeasement were shut after the Modi government came to power at the Centre Now development without any discrimination is happening No one can give even one example of discrimination against anyone in the last six years he assertedNaqvi said that the recruitment of Muslims in government jobs under NDA rule had increased compared with earlier Congress governmentsWhen the NDA came to power Muslims had only less than 4 per cent participation in administrative services Today it has gone up to more than 10 per centThe participation of Muslims in administrative services has increased to 152 in 2017 160 plus in 2018 and even more in 2019 Capability has come to be valued under this government the Minority Affairs Minister saidNaqvi also claimed that Indian Muslims were changing their mindset about the BJP In the 2014 general elections we got 16 per cent minority votes and 21 per cent in 2019 This shows that in the last 70 years the poison injected into Muslim minds by our opponents against the BJP is decreasingAs for the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir which he visited recently Naqvi claimed that the Centres move had rid the UT of 370 problemsSome people were using Article 370 as a protective shield but their arrogance has since been shattered the Minister claimedThe Minister also expressed concern over the population explosion in India and stressed the need to control it No country can ignore the population explosion as it affects developmental activitiesNaqvi is among the few BJP leaders who have been part of both the governments led by Modi as well as Atal Bihari VajpayeeAsked about the difference between the two governments he said Prime Minister Modi has the style of working nonstop without getting tired He believes in results not in efforts During the Vajpayee rule the era of nonCongress governments and coalition politics gained groundDespite a clear majority today in Parliament Modi preferred to form his government in alliance with NDA partiesOn the demands for implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations given in 2006 regarding the minorities in India the Minister said that while the Congress and its allies believed in the report the NDA believed in results on the ground The Modi government works by looking at ground realities and not the report he quippedThe Minister listed various government schemes formulated and implemented for the betterment of religious minorities in the countryHe said that Hunar Haat scheme was launched to provide opportunities and markets to artisans and craftsmen involved in specific trades So far more than five lakh artisans have been given employment by the Ministry at Hunar Haat Naqvi saidKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever