Why blame our govt for communal attacks in states: Centre
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh
Home Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday sought to put the responsibility of maintaining communal harmony on the state governments. He reiterated the haraamzada remark by a Union minister was wrong, and pitched for an anti-conversion law passed unanimously to bring a stop to frequent questions on ghar wapsi and communal harmony.
He said it is state governments that must act if there is any disruption of communal harmony. “I as Home Minister say that if anybody, anywhere, tries to disrupt communal harmony, states should take strict action,” he said while replying to the debate on demands for grants under the Home Ministry in the Lok Sabha. “How can the Centre intervene?… If it in happens in Delhi, we will take strict action. I think justice is not being done to the Centre if it is blamed for what happens in states.”
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About conversion, he said, “Questions are being raised about communal harmony citing ghar wapsi. I will suggest that let us take a decision and if the entire House agrees, let us pass an anti-conversion law. In all countries of the world the minorities demand an anti-conversion law but in India they don’t demand it.”
With the Opposition interrupting the hour-long speech frequently over attacks on minorities, Rajnath assured that the government will not tolerate anything that disturbs communal harmony. “I want to assure, especially the minorities, that the government will protect them with all its might,” he said. About church attacks in the capital, he said: “If there is any attack on any sensitive location, there should be stringent action.”
He said attacks on religious places have been occurring for long and there have also been instances of vandalism and theft at temples. “If I was interested in political gains, I would have tabled all statistics on the issue. It would hurt the feelings of many people. But it would create an unnecessary controversy… I appeal to all not to do politics over the issue,” he said.
The opposition accused the Sangh Parivar for vitiating the atmosphere and mentioned remarks such as haraamzada by Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti. “It was wrong,” Rajnath said.
Rajnath said no other country can match India’s rich tradition of tolerance and harmony — only India has all 73 sects of Islam, Christianity has been in India since the second century, Israel agrees there are no atrocities against Jews in India, and the Parsi community, though its roots are in Iran, is living peacefully in India.
He also praised the Muslim community for discouraging organisations such as ISIS.
Source:: Indian Express