Communalism a problem in India, but accusations won't help, says Naqvi

New Delhi, March 2: Admitting that communalism is a problem faced by the nation, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Monday, however, said accusations will not solve it.

"Several members raised the issue of communalism. These issues are there, communalism is there, casteism is there, untouchability was there... But to fight these problems, accusation and counter accusation will not help. We must isolate these powers, we must not glorify them," Naqvi said while participating in a discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the motion of thanks to President Pranab Mukherjee's address to both houses of Parliament.

"...when I say this, I am saying this in a non-political manner," he said.

The Minister added that the Congress was not to be thanked for the fact that India is a secular nation.

"...we do not give the credit to Congress... the people of this country decided this nation will be secular. This country has faced the pain of communalism, fragmentation of society and riots for six decades. Our country is secular not because of anyone, but because people of this country have chosen secularism," he said.

He also said that the majority community is to be thanked for secularism being deep rooted.

"The roots of secularism are strong because the majority community has strengthened it. Minorities have not planted secularism, the majority guaranteed safety of minority. Whatever government comes, this secularism cannot be affected," he said.

"The people of this country will never like Taliban mentality and religious intolerance".

The minister said the authors of the country's constitution were visionaries because they chose to make India a secular nation even when neighbouring Pakistan chose to be an Islamic nation.

"We salute the authors of our constitution for their vision that at a time when the neighbouring country declared itself an Islamic nation, the authors of our constitution made this country secular... That (Pakistan) is an Islamic nation where children are being killed, mosques are being blown up and terrorism is cultivated," he said.

He added that his government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were dedicated to maintaining communal harmony in the nation.

"There are discussions on comments outside in this house. Everyone wants that the social fabric remains intact. The prime minister and our government is very positive and clear about this. The prime minister has said in this house as well that we will not let anyone destroy communal harmony," he added.

IANS