Minorities Are Safe in India, Says Union Minister Kiren Rijiju:

Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju emphasized on Tuesday that India’s minority communities are entirely safe. He dismissed rumors suggesting otherwise and called on the public to reject such misinformation.

Speaking at the National Conference of State Minority Commissions, organized by the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), Rijiju highlighted the important role minorities continue to play in national development.

Nation Building and Minority Participation

During his address, Rijiju mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a goal for India to become a developed nation by 2047. He stressed that the contribution of minority communities must be significant in achieving this target.

“Minority communities have made strong contributions to the country in the past. Their role will remain crucial in the future as well,” Rijiju said.

Reference to Indonesia and Muslim Population

The Minister also shared details from a recent Haj conference in Saudi Arabia, where he met representatives from around 80 countries. He recalled a conversation with an Indonesian minister who mentioned that Indonesia has the world's largest Muslim population.

In response, Rijiju said it is possible that India might surpass Indonesia in Muslim population after the next census, though exact figures are currently unavailable due to the delay caused by the Covid pandemic.

Equal Rights and Constitutional Protection

Rijiju concluded by reaffirming that minorities in India are protected by the Constitution. “India is governed by its Constitution. Every citizen, including those from minority communities, enjoys equal rights and legal protection under it,” he stated.