Don’t divide PM vision on communal lines: Rijiju

Speaking from Aizwal, minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said o n Wednesday, “I told them that when we visit Hindu- majority Maharashtra or Gujarat, we must respect the sentiments of the majority and should not do anything which would hurt the sentiments of the majority. Similarly, when someone visits a Christian- majority or Muslim- majority area, they should respect the sentiments of majority of the local people.”

He said the Indian Constitution has given freedom to practice the faith anyone likes and there is no restriction on that.

He said in India, a new fashion has developed where a balanced view is disregarded and anybody who speaks against Hindus is treated as secular.

“Why do we need to say something against Hindus to become a secular? We should focus on development and communal harmony. The Prime Minister has a vision for 1.2 billion Indians and let’s not divide it on communal line,” he said.

The junior home minister is currently visiting Northeastern states to highlight the NDA government’s achievements in the first year.

In the last one year, a section of the BJP and Hindutva organisations have been demanding a complete ban on sale and consumption of beef across the country. Sale and consumption of beef are already banned in some states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.