Wednesday, September 25, 2024
spot_img

Rahul Gandhi must say sorry to Muslims: Ramesh

Date:

Share post:

spot_img
spot_img

New Delhi: Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh Saturday said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi needed to apologise to the Muslim community for his remarks that Muslim youth were wooed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence.

“His (Rahul Gandhi’s) intention was not to malign any community. But it was blown out of proportion by the media and Congress adversaries,” Jairam Ramesh said during interaction with reporters from the Urdu media at the Islamic Cultural Centre in the national capital.

The Congress vice president had made the remarks at an election rally and was referring to Muslim youth affected by the violence in September this year in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

Minority Affairs Minister K. Rehman Khan and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla were also were present at the event.

The minister said Rahul Gandhi is secular to the core and that no one can doubt his credentials in the matter.

“He is genuinely concerned about minorities, weaker sections, Dalits and deprived classes.” Ramesh said.

He added that secularism in the country faces challenges from divisive forces and warned that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was out to turn the country into a Hindutva Rashtra.

Ramesh said that the BJP was trying to make the elections a matter between clashing personalities and said India is a parliamentary democracy not a presidential one where two people fight it out for the top post.

The minister reminded reporters that regional parties too had a role to play in deciding who would come to power. He said that while the Bharatiya Janata party was largely confined to India’s cowbelt, the Congress had a pan-nation base.

Ramesh said that there should not be double standards in the distribution of relief. He said that whether communal violence or natural disaster, those affected should get relief. He said the centre had released Rs.250 crore to Assam for riot-affected people, but Uttar Pradesh had not approached the centre with a request for relief to the violence-affected people of Muzaffarnagar. (Agencies)

spot_img
spot_img

Related articles

Swachhta Hi Seva activities taken up in SWGH, EJH

TURA/KHLIEHRIAT, Sep 24: As part of the nationwide Swachhta Hi Seva campaign, two districts in Meghalaya — South...

SP admits rise in theft cases may be linked to drug issue

SHILLONG, Sep 24: East Khasi Hills district police chief Sylvester Nongtnger admitted that the rise in burglary and...

EGH to celebrate World Rabies Day

TURA, Sep 24: As part of the World Rabies Day 2024, celebrated on September 28, the East Garo...