Union Minister of State for Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi speaks to the New Indian Express Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla on BJP’s commitment to empower minorities, Congress party, and Narendra Modi’s idea of making development reach all sections of the society on Sachchi Baat on India News.
PC: You are a senior leader and a minister. Which role do you give more importance to?
MAN: I am a party worker first. The party entrusts a party worker with additional roles. I have the responsibility of the Parliamentary affairs, party, and elections. I have the responsibility of the minority affairs ministry.
PC: Modiji gave you the responsibility of minority affairs. He gave you the role for preparation, plus he handed over the roadmap to you. Do you have limitations because of the security issues you face?
MAN: I meet a lot of people all the time. We are talking about strengthening and empowering the mission. It is about trust and development. Some people are isolated. We should also know that the minorities were intentionally distanced from economic, social and academic development owing to political reasons for decades.
PC: How will you empower them? People rejected you and your ideology in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
MAN: Our ideology is that of development. It’s about “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”. BJP got 3000-4000 votes in the Valley. There are no Hindus there.
PC: There were 35 candidates. Except for one, all lost their deposit.
MAN: For us, 3000 votes in the Valley todaymean as many as 30,000…
PC: You would never field candidates in the Valley.
MAN: Exactly. You said it. We would never even field candidates in the Valley.
PC: Di you field the candidates on the Centre’s agenda.
MAN: We believe in democratic traditions. We didn’t do it by force. We couldn’t have won that way. We wanted to win the trust of people on the issue of development. The vote we got in the polls is very important to us.
PC: Your ‘Mission 44’ failed. The minorities thought that the Modi government believes in development but there is an impression that it is against the minorities. Modiji couldn’t melt the snow.
MAN: The snow has melted, indeed. It needs to melt more. We will have to take four steps forward in that direction. Mission-strengthening has one purpose. We have to understand the basic problems and hurdles the people face. We will have to pay special attention to the minorities because they are backward in all spheres. The backwardness didn’t come naturally. It was the result of the political highhandedness of some political stuntmen on the name of secularism.
PC: Modiji had talked about the modernisation of madarsas. People perceive it as interference. How will you bring them into the mainstream?
MAN: An impression has been created against the madarsas… that they follow orthodox ways. It’s not correct. A lot of good students come from the madarsas. We have to improve the basic structure of madarsas. We have to give them more facilities. We have to help them connect with the mainstream education. We are happy to see that organisations like Al Qaeda and ISIS have not been able to establish their roots in the country. India’s Muslims and minorities are rejecting such people and giving them a fitting reply.
PC: Why do you feel that one needs a minister from the minority to tackle minorities?
MAN: It is felt that people of the minorities connect with a minister from the minorities in a better manner. However, I agree with you. Also, Modiji hasn’t thought that way. We have very tough responsibilities. I am treating both with a feeling to inculcate trust.
PC: People from the Sangh are talking about “Ghar Vaapsi” and you are talking about empowerment. Is there a contradiction?
MAN: Such things will have a negative impact on Modiji’s development agenda. We are committed to not let any negative things dominate the development agenda. A lot will happen outside…
PC: But you failed in Rajya Sabha… Sadhvijiand all brought it back to square one.
MAN: It would have been good had these events not taken place.
PC: You could pass 12 bills.
MAN: Yes, we could pass 12 bills. However, the arrogant attitude of the Congress …
PC: They say that you are arrogant.
MAN: Sadhviji apologised. They said that the PM should speak. He spoke. They still didn’t let the House proceed.
PC: Something else happened after that.
MAN: They were looking for excuses. Every excuse was an expired one. It was not touching or connecting people.
PC: Are you pretending to work for the minorities?
MAN: There are no pretentions. There is work happening on the ground. There should be no pretentions.
PC: What is the difference between the previous government and your government?
MAN: They used to make policies and plans on the desk and on paper. The policies were implemented on the desk. There is a difference in the way we function. We are taking the policies in all spheres of development to the ground through communication with people. The biggest development that has taken place in the Modi government is that the middlemen in the power corridor have disappeared. Earlier, the middlemen would gobble up plans and policies. There are so many NGOs who would receive the grants time and again on the name of development of the minorities. There was no development of the minorities. Checking files in an air-conditioned office won’t help. We have to go to the ground and meet the people.
PC: How will you inculcate the feeling of trust and the impression of not being anti-minority?
MAN: There is a lack of trust because our political rivals indulged in a lot of negative campaigning and maligning us. “Yahan majboot se majboot loha toot jata hai. Kaee Jhoote ikkatthe hon to sachcha toot jata hai. The so-called secular syndicate collectively decides to create a mood against BJP.
PC: Is Modi not worried because of that?
MAN: He is the PM. He is the PM of the entire country. He wants development to trickle into all sections of the society including the minorities.
PC: He gave you minority affairs. Shouldn’t he have given you a better ministry? Does he not trust his own ministers?
MAN: Modiji has placed a lot of trust in everyone. You would see very few Prime Ministers who believe using a lot of communication. He responds to phone calls and calls back every party worker. Every minister has a free hand. All these perceptions and stories that ministers are inconsequential (are doing the rounds). The ministers have to perform. Minority Affairs ministry is the father of all ministries. It is full of challenges.
PC: Should the Muslim brother not have faith in Hindus?
MAN: It will happen. That’s a different issue.
PC: Why should the minority affairs minister be a Muslim?
MAN: He has trust.
PC: Even the previous government had a Muslim as the minorities’ minister. Same applies to the Dalits when it comes to social welfare department. The minister is a Dalit.
MAN: People feel that the society connects with it. I agree with you. Performance should be taken into account and not caste.
PC: Why are you carrying on with the legacy (of continuing with the minority affairs ministry). Do you believe in (minority) appeasement?
MAN: They appease. We empower.
PC: There has been no Muslim (party) general secretary after you; also no Muslim CMs.
MAN: How many has Congress made? They beat the drums of being secular. BJP will make a Muslim PM when it gets the opportunity.
PC: Charity begins at home. Empowerment begins in the party first. Where are the roles for Muslims in the party?
MAN: We believe in the empowerment of the people. Congress empowered a lot of its own ministers. But there was no empowerment of people and minorities.
PC: Why will the minorities join you if they feel that there is no respect for minorities in the party?
MAN: How can you say that there is no respect for people from the minorities in the party?
PC: How many people from your party one in the J&K polls? Why don’t you take people who want to negotiate?
MAN: It’s an internal issue.
PC: Why did Ram Madhav go for talks in the state (J&K)?
MAN: Will the religion decide who goes for talks? Will it be decided by looking at who is Hindu or Sikh or Muslim? Was it done in and by the Congress?
PC: Are you different from the Congress? Are you “Party with a difference”?
MAN: I was the campaign in charge for the crucial election of 2014 and before that, of 2009. Would it be possible in any other party? I am satisfied with the role I have been given. I have to do well in the challenge.
PC: What about the stereotyping and portrayal of the minorities in the mock drill (last year)?
MAN: I am against any kind of stereotyping. There was the stereotyping of the Sikhs in the 1980s. We believe that in the last 10 years, the Congress workers have given the cap and beard a ‘Made-in-Al Qaeda’ stamp. It resulted in the making of a certain mindset. Muslims of this country are dedicated to the nation like others.
PC: Have such incidents increased after your government came into power?
MAN: No.
PC: You said that you have to make an anti-conversion bill.
MAN: Our stand has been against forced and induced conversion. Look at all the Parliament proceedings. It was opposed the most by Congress and the so called ‘secular’ people. Today, they are expressing worries. We understand that and we have asked them to help make a law in the states.
PC: You introduced the bill on reservations (for Muslims) in Maharashtra and dropped it.
MAN: Quota ke lotey se aarakshan kee afeem pila kar aap musalmaan ka sashaktikaran nahin kar sakte. It is not empowerment. It is appeasement.
PC: As per the Sachar Committee Report, people feel that they are not selected on merit; that the selectors are biased.
MAN: Education, capability and eligibility are important factors in selection.
PC: Are you against religion-based quota?
MAN: Yes. There should be no religion-based quota. The courts will no support and continue anything unconstitutional. We are saying that you help people move ahead on the basis of the economic background. You won’t be able to help them see development the day you do it on the basis of religion. We have to move ahead in economic empowerment.
PC: Should there be a post reserved in the party for Muslims?
MAN: No.
PC: There are no Muslim faces in your party.
MAN: Why not?
PC: Why are you not a CM? How many Muslims are there among the party MLAs?
MAN: It will happen. The number has to go up.
PC: Are you able to attract minorities?
MAN: One thing is clear. For them to take one step towards us, we have to take four.
PC: Do you lack on that account? The J&K Assembly polls have proven that people of all sections don’t vote for you.
MAN: We have won three out of six Lok Sabha seats in J&K. How did we win the Kargil seat? Are there Hindus in Kargil?
PC: Why did you not win an assembly seat from there?
MAN: It’s a democracy.
PC: Why are there such few Muslim faces in the party? Is it your weakness?
MAN: It will come. It will happen. Every party has 2-3 visible faces. Same applies to the states. It will happen.
PC: Are you happy with the post you have got?
MAN: Definitely. I am part of the Modi government and he (the PM) has trust in me. Parliamentary affairs and minority affairs are challenging jobs. One has to be strong and achieve success in the jobs given.
PC: Have you been limited to the job of minority affairs?
MAN: No. Sitaron ke aagey jahan aur bhi hain. Abhi Imtihaan aur bhi hain.
PC: Thanks for coming to the studio.
MAN: Thanks.