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BJP Not Doing Politics of Communalism But The Politics of Justice And Honesty, Says Rajnath Singh

He said the party's election to power shows that it doesn't do politics over religion.
PTI

GUWAHATI -- Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said people have accepted BJP as a party of their own by electing it to power at the Centre with thumping majority even though opposition parties had made allegations in the past that it practised politics over religion.

"There was a big allegation that BJP used to do politics over religion or over communalism. Now that allegation has gone away. Had it been a party of doing politics over religion, then the 1.25 billion people of the country would not have elected to power with a clear majority," he said addressing a meeting of the BJP's Assam unit here.

Singh, a senior BJP leader, said the party never practiced politics over religion nor did over communalism but on the issue of justice and honesty.

"We do politics over justice and honesty. We are a party which takes everyone along and wants to march forward with everyone's cooperation," he said.

The Home Minister said BJP's politics is centred around humanity - irrespective of whether someone is Hindu, Muslim, Christian or from any other religion.

Describing Indo-Bangladesh agreement on land-swap as a very significant pact for bilateral relations, Singh said after the exchange of 'enclaves' along the border, Dhaka has been supporting India in every international forums.

"Be it on terrorism or be it on any other issues, Bangladesh has been supporting India in every international forum ever since we have completed the process of exchange of enclaves between India and Bangladesh.

Singh said security of the more than 200-kilometre-long Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam was a priority for the BJP government and it will be completely sealed in next one and a half years.

"We are committed to sealing the 223.7-km Indo-Bangladesh border in Assam and the process is on. It is expected to be completed within the next year and a half," he said.

The Home Minister said Bangladesh is a neighbouring country and India shares a good and warm relations and wants to continue and remain committed to in the future.

The Home Minister, without referring to the issues of illegal migration and granting of citizenship to Hindu refugees, assured the people of Assam that BJP was committed to protect the interests of the indigenous population of the state as per Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

"We are committed to Clause 6 of the Assam Accord and will protect it even if we have to amend the Constitution," he said.

Referring to the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, Singh said the process is underway and the state government should complete it soon.

Singh said the Centre will make no compromise on the issue of insurgency as he claimed that violence has considerably come down in the state.

"If any people or group have any grievances, problems or issues, we are ready to talk to them... We are ready to embrace them and talk. But if there is violence, there will be no compromise," he said.

The Home Minister claimed people have supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "bold step" to demonetise high-value currency notes and his fight against black money and corruption.

"The Prime Minister's bold step of demonetisation has been welcomed by the people of the country and we are grateful for that," he said.

The Prime Minister's fight against black money and corruption was "beyond any doubt" and the people of the country have expressed their gratitude by supporting him despite facing initial difficulties, the home minister said.

"People did face initial difficulties after demonetisation was announced, but no one has questioned the intention of the Prime Minister.

"People had to wait for hours in queues outside ATMs, but when told they were facing difficulties, many replied, 'When our jawans our dying on the borders to protect our country against enemies, then why can't we stand in queues for a few hours.' This is the spirit of our people," he said.

Modi on November 8 had announced to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, and said new notes of denominations Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 will be issued in their place, leading to a rush among people to exchange their notes at banks and withdraw new notes from ATMs.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.