The Hindu : New Delhi News : Statement on LoC: Rajnath plea

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Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007
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Statement on LoC: Rajnath plea

Staff Reporter

‘BJP has always seen Muslims as citizens, not as voters alone’

- Photo: S. Subramanium

Minorities rally: Bharatiya Janata Party president, Rajnath Singh along with party leaders, Shahnawaz Hussain, Najma Heptullah, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Harshvardhan, addressing the BJP minorities rally at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi.

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party national president Rajnath Singh has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to explain the basis on which he had suggested that the Line of Control between India and Pakistan become a “Shanti Rekha” (Line of Peace).

He said it should not be forgotten that Parliament had in 1994 unanimously passed a resolution that had stated that not only Jammu and Kashmir but also Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) were an integral part of the country.

Addressing a rally of the BJP’s Minority Front at Jantar Mantar here, Mr. Singh demanded that the Prime Minister immediately withdraw the “irresponsible statement.” While his party was in favour of holding talks with Pakistan on all issues, it did not want them at the cost of hurting the sentiments of the people.

Stating that the Minority Front had started the work of creating awareness among the Muslim community, Mr. Singh said that since Independence the Congress had ruled the country for 52 of the 60 years. “Then, why is it that the condition of the Muslims in the country remains so pathetic?”

Mr. Singh said while the BJP was blamed for the plight of the Muslims, the fact remained that the community had all along been neglected and used by the Congress, which had played on their sentiments and always sought votes by creating an atmosphere of insecurity among them.

He accused the Congress of sowing the seeds of hatred among the Muslims and Hindus. “But now the Muslims will have to awaken, understand the truth and work for the betterment of the country.”

Lauding the role of Shahnawaz Hussain, president of the Minority Front, in bringing many Muslims into the party fold, Mr. Singh said “the BJP has always seen Muslims as citizens of this country and not as voters alone.” On the issue of reservation for the Muslims, he clarified that the party was for giving reservation to all on the basis of economic backwardness and not on the basis of religion.

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