Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi’s remarks were in response to a statement by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on what it called “Islamophobia” in the India.
New Delhi, April 21:
India is heaven for Muslims and their social, economic and religious rights are secure, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said today, in response to a statement by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on what it called “Islamophobia” in the country.
“India’s Muslims are prosperous. Those trying to vitiate the atmosphere can’t be their friends,” Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was quoted as telling Press Trust of India.
“The constitutional, social and religious rights of all the citizens including minorities is India’s constitutional and moral guarantee,” he said.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had in a statement on Sunday urged India to take “urgent steps” to protect the rights of Muslims and stop the incidents of “Islamophobia” in the country.
whenever he speaks, he talks about the rights and welfare of 130 crore Indians. If some cannot see this, then it is their problem.”
The minister remarked that “secularism and harmony” was not “political fashion but perfect passion” for India and Indians.
“Traditional and professional bogus bashing brigades are still active in the conspiracy to spread misinformation. We should remain cautious of such evil forces and we need to work united to defeat their nefarious misinformation propaganda,” said Mr Naqvi, the only Muslim minister at the centre.
The government had earlier hit out at the 57-member grouping of Muslim majority nations, saying it should not make irresponsible statements.
The row follows posts on social media over a Tablighi Jamaat gathering in Delhi last month, which emerged as a super-spreader of coronavirus with thousands of cases across the country linked to its members.
The Islamic sect was accused of violating social distancing guidelines and ignoring all caution by organizing the gathering of 9,000 at their centre in Delhi, Markaz Nizamuddin. As states tracked down Tablighi members in their fight to control the infection, there was a spurt in hate posts on social media.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday criticized any form of discrimination, saying the COVID-19 pandemic affects everyone equally. “COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or border before striking. Our response and conduct thereafter should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood,” the PM had said in a post on LinkedIn.
Courtesy: NDTV
