Pakistan is getting isolated in the fight against terrorism, Minister of State for Minority and Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said here on Friday.
Mr. Naqvi said the fight against terrorism was no longer the problem of one particular country.
“It is universal and a fight for all of humanity. Even post-Peshawar, if Pakistan continues to be casual in its approach to terrorists who were responsible for killing innocent people, it is unfortunate,” he said.
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He was fielding a question at an interaction with presspersons here on his first visit to the State after becoming Minister.
He was guarded when asked about the cover photo of the latest issue of Himalaya Dhwani , a magazine brought out by ‘Durga Vahini’, the women’s wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad that went viral because it had the ‘morphed’ face of actress Kareena Kapoor half-covered with a ‘burqah.’ “It s not correct to carry on hate ‘jihad’ in the name of love ‘jihad’,” was all he would say.
“Our Mission Empowerment is focussed on development of minority communities in the States. I have been discussing with the States on issues and implementation of minority welfare programmes — be it employment, infrastructure, education and scholarships. The Centre is committed to the development of every section of society. It is sad that over 50 per cent of minorities are living below the poverty line,” Mr. Naqvi said.
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“We are against any negative agenda and are for good governance only. We will not allow anyone to dent our agenda,” he said.
Mr. Naqvi spoke in favour of anti-conversion law, but felt that there will have to be consensus among political parties about that. Asked to comment on the issue of re-conversions (ghar wapsi) by Hindutva fringe groups in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Naqvi said law and order was a State subject, and the State government should act against any violation.
“The country runs by law, not by weapon,” he said.
‘Our Mission Empowerment is focussed on development of minorities’