Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Indian Muslims descendant­s of Ram: Giriraj Singh

- HT Correspond­ent htraj@htlive.com

minister of state for MSME, Giriraj Singh, has said that Muslims in India are descendant­s of Lord Ram and not that of Babur, so they should have no problem in extending support for the constructi­on of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Singh was talking to reporters during a visit to Jodhpur on Sunday. “Our Shia brothers are cooperatin­g in this matter and we expect that Sunni Muslims will also come forward. We will put one brick and they will put one brick. If Ram temple is not built in India, then where else will it be built – Pakistan?” he said.

Singh also asked the views of the reporters present on the building Ram temple in Ayodhya saying he was taking feedback from journalist­s on the matter.

On the controvers­y surroundin­g the film Padmavati, he said that filmmakers take a lot of liberty as Hindus are tolerant. He challenged Bhansali to make films on other religions and said, “Does Sanjay Bhansali or anyone else has the guts to make films on other religions or comment on them? They only make films on Hindu gods and warriors. We won’t tolerate this anymore.”

On goods and services tax (GST), he said that there have been some teething troubles but it will be beneficial for the MSME

JAIPUR:Union We will put one brick and they will put one brick. If Ram temple is not built in India, then where else will it be built – Pakistan?

GIRIRAJ SINGH, Union minister of state for MSME

sector in the long run. “The Congress is two-faced about GST. The Congress state ministers support it in GST council meeting while Rahul Gandhi opposes it,” he said

Singh has been known to make controvers­ial remarks in the past. In September this year, he had said that Pakistan should “take away” Rohingyas as Jaishe-Mohammad (Jem) chief Masood Azhar was “fond of them.”

Singh has stirred up a major controvers­y in April 2014 in the run-up to the general election when he had said that those opposing the then prime ministeria­l candidate Narendra Modi “will have to go to Pakistan after the elections.”

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India