JEDDAH — Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, former Union Minister of India and chairman of the Long Term Accommodation Committee (LTAC), while extolling the strengthening bonds between India and Saudi Arabia stressed that neither the Indian government nor the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will allow anti-national activities. Shahnawaz expressed these sentiments during a press conference at the Al-Hamra Sofitel Hotel here on Friday evening. He also made it clear that he was speaking as the BJP spokesperson and not in his capacity as the LTAC chairman while alluding to the fact that the Indian Haj quota will remain the same this year and may be the next year too. On the ongoing Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) imbroglio, Shahnawaz was to the point: "Nobody in India has the right to speak against the country. There's freedom of speech in India, but there's no freedom for anti-national or seditious speech. Freedom of speech does not mean that you'll call for breaking the country into thousand pieces, freedom of speech does not mean that you'll destroy India." He added: "Even Pakistan when they raise slogans against us, they raise slogans on freedom for Kashmir. Never have they raised slogans that they will break India into thousand pieces. We will not allow Indian soil to be used for such types of sloganeering. "Then the second thing is that there are certain groups that are banned, like the Naxalites, and their sites that carry materials that foment trouble. Purveyors of such material should not be supported. Also Afzal Guru was hanged during the Congress rule, and raising this slogan, ‘Afzal we are ashamed that the killers are still alive' is calling it an error on part of the Indian Supreme Court, for it was the court that issued the judgment and implemented the verdict." "Then there was POTA instituted, during the Congress regime, to curb people from carrying out anti-national activities, and I cite the example of the Tamil politician Vaiko, who made anti-national statements, who was held. There is a rule of law," Shahnawaz stressed. He added, "The constitution has not given anybody total freedom, but it called for freedom with responsibility. And the Delhi police are taking action in accordance with the Indian constitution. The BJP will not have truck with anybody who wishes to break the country into thousand pieces, nor will it allow such people to flourish. Not only us, but the whole nation is against such deviant thoughts." When told that some media channels have reported that the speech was doctored, Shahnawaz, replied, "This is one side of the story. Let's wait for the Delhi police report after forensic investigation. If someone says this is doctored then to prove it we need to go to the lab. That's what the police have done. Let's wait for that report." To another question that there's a perception that on one side Modi government's Make in the India program is being touted as successful and on the other side certain elements are trying to take away from the campaign with their statements and act, he said: "Make in India is a very effective campaign and it has driven investments. But there will be propaganda by people who are against BJP or Modi, and are not keeping quiet. They are using every opportunity to fault Modi and the party. "You can hate Modi, no problem. But you cannot hate India or the Indian government, mandated by the people. Modi is on the right path and is taking India in the right direction, and there is peace all over India. "There is no curfew, and the nation is virtually riot-free, and there is peace everywhere after Modi government took charge and it is working for the progress of the country. Modi's mantra is ‘Sab ka saath, sab ka vikas' (we are with everybody, and we seek everybody's progress)." When told about the Dadri case, Shahnawaz quipped: "Whose government is in Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh's Samajwadi Party's government. And law and order is a state subject with the center only able to issue an advisory at the most if situation deteriorates. The incident only unmasked the non-secular face of the Samajwadi Party." Shahnawaz said: "Modi does not view people as from various religious or ethnic denominations, but as Indians, and he is working on an one-dimensional view — development. He is even strengthening India's foreign policy, and ties with Saudi Arabia is growing, and will become stronger after Modi's planned visit to Saudi Arabia. He has raised the stature of India in the comity of nations, and has lifted the nation's economy such that, despite a global slowdown, India' s economy is growing." He also asked the opposition to talk on issues. "Criticize us, but do not stand by anti-nationals, just for the sake of opposing us. I urge all parties to play a role of constructive opposition and not destructive politics. What they are doing is not constructive. The tactics used in stopping the GST bill, which could benefit all and the nation, is evidence to their obstructionist policies. They are not even seeing that we are just furthering their policy." "You can disagree or even challenge government policies, but such anti-national thoughts should not be allowed to grow. The perception was made that if Modi comes to power then Indian Muslims' lives would become miserable, but such is not the case. So people who want to create problems, stoke non-issues to put obstacles in Modi's path. The situation is not that bad, as it is perceived or made out to be," he added. Shahnawaz said that his government has smoothened the path for minorities in providing equal opportunities. "The Modi government's idea is to make them equal citizens in India. We are against appeasement, but for equality of minorities with the majority, such that all enjoy equal rights and opportunities. To a question that would Muslims be given government jobs, or considered for it, Shahnawaz said. "Let 90 Muslims apply for jobs if there are 100 openings then all stand equal chance of getting a job. The government does not look at names, everything is competitive and by introducing e-governance it has made all selection process transparent. "Earlier, discrimination happened in the selection process due to personal connections. But now nobody will know any names, as the written exams are all on roll numbers and this is will only help meritorious selection. The process has done away with the brokers and conmen who used to make money for influencing jobs, or being sidelined due to religious, ethnic, language considerations. "The second focus has been that every child goes to school. This would instill competitive spirit in all, and this would also enhance the chances of children of minorities. But if only 3 % of the children get educated then how can they become 10% IAS officers. "We need to educate our children. Like there are reservations in tribes, the Meena community uses it to good effect and joins the services in good numbers, all because they concentrate on education. " In addition, he said, "Muslims prefer to put their children in madrasas and they are not equipped to be competitive. But in Tamil Nadu and Kerala the trend to teach science along with religious studies in madrasas is welcome. The fact that memorization plays a role in learning Qur'an, enables the child to gain knowledge easily in the sciences and makes them knowledgeable and competitive. We need to educate our children." When asked to compare the Vajpayee and Modi government, Shahnawaz said, "You cannot make any comparison. Modi is just continuing the policies set in motion by Vajpayee. Yes you can compare Modi and Manmohan Singh's government." When asked whether Modi's birthday diplomacy, which saw him visit Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif on his birthday, has borne fruit, Shahnawaz said: "Modi's policy from day one has been for close and good relations with neighbors. That's why he invited Nawaz Sharif at his inauguration to forge better ties. The moves broke the perceptions already pervading that with Modi in government ties are sure to sour, and Modi provides many surprises and this is one of them." India wants good ties with Pakistan. But the Modi government is clear on one thing that friendship cannot be fostered when terror is being fueled. Both need to extend the hand of friendship. Pakistan is our neighbor and we should stay good friends. But the move toward friendship is stymied by the support to terror, he said. On Kerala assembly elections, when asked whether BJP would open its account, Shahnawaz said: "Just wait, you'll see our party winning in double digits." On the Long term accommodation committee set up by the supreme court in order to facilitate the Indian pilgrims' stay in KSA by resolving the accommodation issue, he said, "It is a high-powered committee as it has the mandate of both the central government and the supreme court." "It is not an easy task, bur we are on the path of resolving this issue in order our Hajis do not face difficulties. The Saudi government has not made a long term plan in accommodation, but our Hajis are living in one area, like Aziziyah, over a long period. We negotiated last year for accommodation for a period of three or five years, and it has proved beneficial. "Last year we had identified a building for this purpose, but the issue of ‘kitchen' proved a stumbling block. Indian Hajis prefer to have their own kitchen, and in every building in Makkah, such facilities are catered to. To a question if the recent change in law that called no land to be left vacant or face penalties that could drive down the rents, Shahnawaz said: "Market realities would be considered while going for a long term deal. The fluctuation of rent and the prices would be factored in. We would be instilling in clauses to safeguard both parties' interests. We will set up the parameters of what Indian Hajis would require and present it to the people we are in talks with." To a question what benefits Hajis would derive from this move? he said: "We were previously renting 15 buildings at different locations, with this move all our Hajis will be housed in one area, and it will be easy to manage their movements as well as cater to their needs. And above all, no pilgrims will complain about their accommodation." Asked whether the Supreme Court order of 2013 proved beneficial, and are you happy, Shahnawaz said: "Of course, it has made a vast difference. Initially the delegation that used to come was mammoth and that has been cut...and everybody is in sync with the court's ruling." It has also made the process more transparent, with the doing away of the quota system in sending pilgrims, He said. "Even I cannot send any family members if they have not applied or in the queue to perform Haj. The Supreme Court's judgment has led to streamlining of the process while allowing for many benefits for the pilgrims. "The court's ruling is such that the committee should act for the Hajis and see to that the pilgrims do not get cheated after paying for decent accommodation That's what we are trying to do. I'll add that the Modi government last year stepped in and involved national carrier Air India to transport the pilgrims back...the result was there were no major complaints of delayed flights and lost baggage."
