Rijiju: Congress Used Muslims for Votes, Never Aimed to Make a Muslim Minister

Pune, 8th October 2024: Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minorities, Kiren Rijiju, criticized the Congress party, accusing them of treating the Muslim community as a vote bank. He stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not currently receive votes from the Muslim community, and added that if the community starts supporting the BJP, there would be expectations to appoint Muslim politicians as MPs and Ministers.

Rijiju made these remarks during a press conference on Monday (7th October) in Pune. City President Dheeraj Ghate and former Minister of State Dilip Kamble were also present.

In his address, Rijiju strongly criticized the Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of spreading false propaganda regarding the Waqf Board Amendment Bill. He claimed that the Congress is misleading the Muslim community by suggesting that their lands would be seized due to the bill.

“In the current political climate, attempts are being made to discredit Maharashtra. Even during the Lok Sabha elections, there was a false political plot against the BJP. It’s the Congress that has undermined the Constitution and democracy,” Rijiju said. He further alleged that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, was consistently insulted by the Congress, particularly by Pandit Nehru. “Nehru even tried to block Ambedkar’s entry into Parliament and excluded him from the Cabinet,” Rijiju added.

He went on to say that Congress has historically used the Muslim community for electoral gains. “The Muslim community will no longer fall for this false narrative. During the Congress regime, they portrayed the Minority Ministry as being exclusively for Muslims, and misled the minority community while fostering anti-national forces,” he alleged.

Rijiju also criticized Rahul Gandhi for his statements made abroad, suggesting that minorities are unsafe in India. He emphasized that the BJP has given equal opportunities to all six recognized minority communities. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach is to promote development by ensuring inclusion of everyone,” Rijiju stated.

Additionally, Rijiju announced plans to construct Constitution buildings in every district of Maharashtra, following discussions with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The central government will provide funding for these projects, with additional support from the state government. He further outlined various initiatives for the minority community, including the establishment of skill development centers, playgrounds, libraries, and hostels.