MUMBAI: Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today reviewed issues related to empowerment of minorities in Maharashtra at a meeting with the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis here.
"My meeting with Fadnavis was a follow-up on the issues of minorities empowerment. I had earlier held a meeting with Maharashtra Minister Eknath Khadse and the concerned officials of the minorities welfare department," Naqvi said.
"There is a proposal to develop three Maharashtra city corporations as model corporations for minority empowerment. I had detailed discussion on this with Fadnavis, and the state government will identify these cities based on population data," he said.
"The priority today is growth and development. Fundamentalist forces and Talibani mindset are the enemies of development. These forces can be defeated only when we face them with unity," he said.
"There are some parties, which call themselves secular and try to win votes by promising reservation for minorities. Our government is committed to all-round development of all the people and not any single section of people," he said.
On what to expect during the budget session of Parliament beginning February 23, Naqvi said, "The session will be very important from the point of view of country's progress.
Besides the Union Budget, several key bills aimed at furthering the reforms process will be presented."
"It is very essential to get these bills passed in this session. Hence the government has been reaching out to opposition to take them on board," the Union Minister said.
"An all-party meeting will be held on February 22 in New Delhi. We are hopeful that the opposition will play a constructive role and help make the session fruitful. The mood of the nation is against negative thinking and everyone wants a positive change," Naqvi said.
On political developments in Bihar, the minister said, "BJP is not in any way connected with the political developments in Bihar. The Janata Parivar, which does not have any support of 'janata', is imploding.
"Of course, BJP is watching the developments in the state, and preparing itself to secure mandate of the people when the elections are held, and to provide a stable government to the people of Bihar," he said.