Centre committed to development of minorities: Naqvi

New Delhi: Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Wednesday said that the Narendra Modi government was committed to the overall empowerment of minorities.

"Socio-economic and educational empowerment of minorities is our moral commitment and not a political gimmick like of pseudo-secularists," the minister said in a meeting here with various scholars, academicians and other intellectuals.

"Selfish politics over the issue of empowerment of minorities will not be allowed to succeed," he said.

Naqvi also said some forces with "feudal mindset" were trying to disturb atmosphere of communal harmony, development and trust in the country but no destructive agenda can dominate development agenda of the central government.

"Such forces are restless due to steps taken for overall development of all sections of the society under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the reason that such people are trying to disturb environment of peace and development over baseless issues," he said.

He also accused the "Congress and its friends" of misguiding the people of the country on the issue of tolerance and intolerance.

"The Muslims and other minorities, who were politically exploited by so-called secular political parties for the last several decades, have seen a new ray of hope in the Modi government," he said.

"Steps taken by the government for development of minorities have started yielding results. The government is working to provide fruits of development to the last person of the society," he added.

Mehrajuddin, vice-chancellor of Central University of Kashmir, Ashok Aima, vice-chancellor of Central University Jammu, Aslam Pervez, vice-chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU), and many others attended the meeting at the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL).