Govt will provide protection to all minorities, says Rajnath

Under attack over ‘ghar wapsi’ and attacks on churches, home minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that the government will not tolerate anything that disturbs communal harmony and put the ball in the court of states, saying law and order was their prerogative.

While replying to discussion on home ministry’s demand for grants in Lok Sabha, Singh said that in the past, attacks on temples have also taken place but refused to provide the figures saying it would not be good for communal harmony of the country.

“If I was interested in political gains, I would have tabled all statistics over the issue. It would hurt feelings of many people. But it would create an unnecessary controversy... I appeal to all not to do politics over the issue,” he said, adding that the government would provide all possible protection to all minorities in the country.

Singh said law and order was a state subject. “States should take strict action. How can the Centre intervene?” He added, “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.”

Responding to questions over ‘ghar wapsi’, the minister said it was wrong to make comments like ‘haramzada’ by his ministerial colleague Niranjan Jyoti but added that unlike most of the other countries it was minorities who opposed anti-conversion law.

In an apparent reference to latest census figures which showed increased share of the minorities, Singh said, “India never expresses concern about changes in demographic profile. No country will allow this change to happen.”