Narendra Modi bats for minority rights, says won't tolerate discrimination on caste, creed
New Delhi: Against the backdrop of criticism over minority issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted that his government "will not tolerate or accept" any discrimination based on caste, creed and religion and that there was no place for "imaginary apprehensions" on rights of minorities.
The Prime Minister also came out strongly against controversial remarks made by some BJP leaders, saying, "we have immediately negated" wherever an individual view has been expressed regarding a particular minority religion.
In an interview to Time magazine at his official residence, he was asked about remarks by some BJP leaders about minorities that have raised concerns among Muslim, Christians and some others about the future of practising their faith in India.
"My government will not tolerate or accept any discrimination based on caste, creed, and religion. So, there is no place for imaginary apprehensions with regard to the rights of the minorities in India," he said.
"And wherever an individual view might have been expressed with regard to a particular minority religion, we have immediately negated that. So far as the BJP and my government are concerned... there is only one holy book of reference, which is the Constitution of India," he said.
The Modi government has been under attack over Hinduvta outfit campaigns like "ghar wapsi", "love-jihad" and recent vandalisation of churches in Delhi and some other towns.
Modi said given the current economic situation in the world, the two countries are at a stage where "we cooperate with China at the international stage but we also compete with China when it comes to commerce and trade."
Asked about China increasing its assertiveness and influence on the world stage including in the South Asia, he said it was a "very natural" tendency for nations to increase their influence in the international space.
"I think it is a very natural tendency for the nations to increase their influence in the international space, as they pursue their international relations with different countries," the Prime Minister said.
"I firmly believe that with due regard to international rules and regulations, and with full respect for human values, I think with these two perspectives in mind each country has the right to increase its presence, its impact and influence internationally for the benefit of the global community," he said.
When asked to convey a special message to President Xi through the interview, Modi said, "I firmly believe that the relationship between two countries...should be such that to communicate with each other there should really not be a need for us to go through a third entity. That is the level of relationship that we currently have."
