New Delhi: Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday reacted to remarks linked to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on offering namaz on streets, saying no individual or leader should create tension and that everyone must follow the law to ensure social harmony.
Addressing reporters after a conference of state minority commissions convened by the National Commission for Minorities, Rijiju said political rhetoric should not disturb communal harmony and stressed peaceful coexistence.
Asked about comments regarding offering namaz on roads and whether such practices should be avoided, Rijiju said the principle applied to everyone alike.
“I said that no matter who they are, whether politicians or social workers, we do not have to create tension. Every Indian has to live in harmony with each other,” he said.
“We all have to live together. But everyone has to follow the law,” the minister added.
Adityanath on Monday warned against offering of namaz on roads and suggested that such religious practices should be conducted in shifts at designated places of worship.
Speaking at an event organised by a Hindi newspaper here, Adityanath stressed that blocking traffic to offer namaz or any other religious practice will not be allowed by his government.
Rijiju was speaking after participating in a conference focused on the functioning of state minority commissions and coordination between the Centre and states on minority welfare programmes.
He said the meeting discussed improving the functioning of minority commissions across states and Union Territories and sought quicker responses from state governments on proposals and clarifications related to welfare schemes.
The minister said minorities in India should not be viewed as weak or disadvantaged merely because they are categorised as minorities.
“In our country, minority communities are called minorities, but that does not mean they are weak or small in any way,” he said.
Emphasising constitutional equality, Rijiju said the size of a community did not determine its treatment under the law.
“Whether it is the Muslim community, which is the largest minority population; or the Parsis, who are among the smallest, no one is treated according to the size of the community. Everyone is treated equally under the Constitution and law,” he said.
Rijiju said the Centre continued to review and update welfare schemes and urged state governments to expedite submissions and responses so that implementation could move faster.
He maintained that the Narendra Modi government’s schemes were meant for all citizens, while adding that targeted intervention would be undertaken whenever minority communities required support.
“Every scheme under Modi ji’s leadership is for everyone. Any scheme is for all Indians. Despite this, if there is a need for intervention for a minority community, then we will also do it,” he said.
Replying to questions on videos circulating on social media purportedly showing poor conditions for Indian Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, Rijiju criticised what he called politicisation of the pilgrimage and said misleading posts created unnecessary concern.
He said some leaders had circulated videos of sewage and waterlogging issues without reporting them to local authorities.
“I saw some posts on social media. This is not right,” he said, adding that Haj pilgrims travel using their own money and that the Indian government’s role was to facilitate arrangements and ensure smooth management.
“The Indian government does not give one rupee for Haj. Every Muslim who goes for Haj goes with their own contribution and money. But we make arrangements, and that too in a transparent way,” he said.
Rijiju said the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Ministry of External Affairs and officials stationed in Saudi Arabia coordinated arrangements in Mecca and Medina, including security, health and logistical support through the Haj Committee of India and tour operators.
Referring to the viral video allegedly showing a flooded bathroom, the minister said he had immediately reviewed the matter and found that the issue was resolved within an hour by local authorities.
He said Saudi officials informed Indian authorities that blockages were caused by waste and hair entering the sewage system in one accommodation area.
“Haj is a sacred matter. If there is a problem, it should be reported immediately to the authorities so that action can be taken,” he said.
The minister said Indian officials were in constant contact with Saudi authorities and monitoring arrangements to ensure pilgrims faced no inconvenience during Haj.
Earlier, speaking at the conference, Rijiju said the state minority commissions function more or less on the same lines as the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), and can play a vital role in monitoring and safeguarding minority rights across the country as statutory bodies.
“India continues to remain one of the safest homes for minorities. When we look at the neighbouring countries in the Indian subcontinent, we often see minority communities facing existential challenges and seeking refuge in India,” he said.
The inaugural session of the conference witnessed insightful addresses by senior officials and dignitaries, underlining the importance of inclusive growth, empowerment and collaborative progress for minority communities. Officials from different state minorities commissions and representatives from different societies for minority communities shared their ideas and discussed welfare schemes so that communities could benefit further.
The event also featured a short film on the NCM and the release of compendia on Buddhism, Jainism and Parsi communities.
Further, the sessions throughout the day will focus on the role of minorities in nation-building, the functioning of state minorities commissions and the sharing of best practices by the states and UTs.
