Minorities are as much a part of India as anyone else: Modi

Agencies
NEW DELHI, JUNE 2

After Narendra Modi made it clear that his government won’t tolerate violence against any particular community, a Muslim delegation led by Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi on Tuesday met the Prime Minister and raised certain concerns about the community. The delegation included Chief Imam of All India Imam Organisation, Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, President Quami Majlis-e-Shoora, Dr Khwaja Iftekhar Ahmed, Chairman of Islamic Council of India, Qari Mohd. Mian Mazhari, Imam of Khateeb Jama Masjid, Race Course, Moulana Mohd. Haroon and others.
During the meeting, PM Modi assured the delegation that his government is committed to ensure harmony and will not tolerate discrimination against anyone.“PM said that Muslims are as much a part of the nation as anyone else. It was a very good meeting. We spoke about how to strengthen the nation and the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb which is moving towards hatred now,” Ilyasi was quoted as saying by ANI.
Interacting with the leaders, the Prime Minister also said that he neither believes in politics which seeks to divide people on communal lines, nor will he ever speak communal language. He said the politics of majority and minority had caused a lot of damage to the country. He said employment and development are the solution to all problems, and he is focused on delivering them.
He further highlighted the initiatives in skill development taken by the Union Government, and the work done by him as Chief Minister of Gujarat in fields such as education of the girl child, and revival of the kite industry.
The PM also appreciated the gesture of the leaders, to take time out to meet him, even on the busy festive occasion of Shab-e-Barat.
The Delegation members appreciated the Prime Minister’s leadership over the last one year, and said they wanted to forge a partnership for progress and development with the Prime Minister. They said that the Muslim community had rejected the divisive politics of vote-banks, and was interested in development.
The leaders congratulated the Prime Minister for his vision of Muslim youth with a Quran in one hand and a computer in the other. They also congratulated him for the country’s success in the adoption of the International Day of Yoga, by the United Nations.
The Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, and the National Security Advisor, Shri Ajit Doval, were present on the occasion.