Indian Muslims are nationalists who oppose terror: Rajnath Singh

Lucknow, May 24: Contending that terrorism should not be associated with any particular religion, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday described India's Muslims as "nationalists" who always "opposed terror" and did not allow radical groups to influence them.

He also asked Pakistan, being a victim of terrorism itself, to extend full cooperation in combating the menace.

"Muslims in India are nationalists. They have always opposed such (terror) elements. They have opposed and demoralised them," the Home Minister said responding to questions here after an event.

"It (Pakistan) should extend full cooperation in checking terrorism because the country is facing a similar problem today," he told reporters.

On Pakistan's strong reaction to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's recent remarks about neutralising terrorists through terrorists, Singh said, "Not only India, but the entire world knows who is promoting terrorism."

Earlier, addressing a SBI officers' convention Singh expressed concern over Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) racket and said it was used to promote terrorism and asked banks to be alert.

Singh, who also launched BJP's Mahasampark Abhiyan, rejected opposition's criticism of the Narendra Modi government that it had done nothing except for making tall promises, asserting global opinion was that India will become an economic super power by 2025.

"Analysis of one year of NDA rule is being done not only in India, but internationally. Today, I can claim that the work done by the popular government led by Modi has made people believe globally that India will become an economic super power by 2025," he said.

He said during 2014 Lok Sabha polls, analysts were not ready to admit that BJP would get even a clear mandate.

"Though they admitted that BJP will emerge as the single largest party, nobody was ready to believe that the party would get a clear mandate. For the first time in the country's history, a non-Congress party got clear mandate," he said.

Singh said during the Congress regime no one could imagine that the growth rate would reach 7.5.

"It is due to the policy decisions taken by the present government and its intention, I am sure that in the next four years it will reach 10 per cent. India will be the fastest growing economy in the world," he said.

PTI