DEORIA, Mar 1: With the ongoing Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh more than halfway through, Union Minister and MP from Deoria, Kalraj Mishra today said the minority community stand benefited by the schemes launched by the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
The affirmation came as the Bharatiya Janata Party seems to be a divided house over giving tickets to the candidates of the minority community in UP.
” An example is Ujjawal scheme where Muslims received free BPL connections and this is a fact which anyone can verify,” Mr Mishra said.
He said ,”BJP is doing very well. It has been proved without doubt that BJP will form the next government in UP.
We are getting support from all sections of the society. In first phase media started projecting that BJP has lost ground because Jats have deserted it.
But they did not realise that Most Backward Classes and other castes have voted in favour of BJP and this has more than compensated our loss.” To a poser on the party’s ‘Saab ka saath, saabka vikas’ agenda , he said ,” We have asked for votes from all sections of the society.
There is no discrimination in our appeal. In fact, we do not discriminate in implementation of policy. Modiji is Prime Minister of India. His policies are meant for development of all sections of society. I can vouch that benefits of Ujjawala Yojana in which free LPG cylinders are given has been availed by Muslims.
I have myself distributed those connections among Muslims. We have made any discrimination. You can go and check details digitally. The BJP Government is working on the principle of sabka saath, sabka vikas”.
Mr Mishra said there is a canard against the BJP spread by certain people and a section of the media.
“One of the senior Samajwadi Party leaders Mohammad Azam Khan always raises killings in Gujarat’s Godhra riots. But another leader of same party Amar Singh questions Azam saying why is he not talking about Muzaffarnagar riots.
There cannot be two rules. It is easy for some leaders to brand BJP as anti-minority community to derive political mileage, ” he added.
When asked why no ticket was given to any candidate from the minority community in UP, the Union minister said election is a contest ”where you put your best foot forward. The only criteria for the party is winnability.
The parties field candidates who can win election for them. The BJP strategists probably did not get any Muslim face who could win election for us. But this does not mean that we discriminate in our policies.
I gave you example of Ujjawala scheme and it reflects party’s commitment towards Sabka saath “.
He said the Modi Government has set up SC/ST Board which is helping the minority community to get jobs and has opened employment venues for them.
”The opposition says we are not able to create employment but the fact is in the past two years the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises department has given over 10,000 jobs in Deoria district only while in India this figure goes in lakhs.
Commenting on the Chief Minister face of BJP in UP, Mr Mishra said this decision has to be taken by the parliamentary board of the party.
“We are contesting election on Modiji’s name. We are telling people that we will replicate the development projects launched by the Modi Government.
The decision will be taken by the parliamentary board. In fact, I do not know my name is there in the race. You are the first one who is telling me this.” (UNI)
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