India: Minister of Minority Affairs Highlights the Basic Thread of Unity and Harmony that Beads together the Policies and Schemes for Minorities in India

Salman Khurshid Meets Media Delegation from Gulf Countries and Wana

The Union Minister for Law and Justice and Minority Affairs,

Salman Khurshid meeting a delegation of media persons from

 WANA (West Asia & North Africa) and Gulf countries, in

New Delhi on July 04, 2012. Photo © PIB

NEW DELHI (PIB) --- Salman Khurshid, Minister of Minority Affairs, has said that the basic idea of unity and harmony percolates to all the policies and schemes that are meant for the development and welfare of Minorities in India. And these policies, he said, have not only seen the Minorities in good stead in this country which has the second highest population of Muslims in the world, but has seen them rise to the highest offices of the State. In an interaction with a Media delegation from the Gulf countries and WANA (West Asia and North Africa) here today,  Khurshid presented various facets of the policies and schemes for the overall development and welfare of the Minorities that are part of Government of India’s basic policy ‘mantra’ of inclusive growth of all sections of society.

The Media delegation, which consisted of journalists also from Egypt and Tunisia – the countries that have undergone massive politico-social changes in recent times – asked questions on a wide spectrum of issues concerning Minorities and the inter-relationship between the Majority and the Minority communities in a secular, democratic India. They also wanted to know the complexities of dealing with situations when in such a pluralistic society there may be a strife between the communities.  Khurshid informed the delegation that though there are instances when there is a communal clash, but all such instances are dealt with utmost conviction of national unity and harmony and the nation as a whole always decries such happenings and stands against them. He said that India has been lucky to have such visionary leaders and statesmen as Mahatma Gandhi and Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, who steered this nation on a path of progress that ensures equality, development and justice to all sections of society, including the Minorities - to the extent that Indian Constitution has specific safeguards and Fundamental Rights granted to the Minoriteis. In this context Salman Khurshid gave details of various schemes and programmes being implemented by his Ministry of Minority Affairs for the welfare and inclusive growth of the Minorities.