Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has emphatically stated that minorities in India have unmatched freedom and security, attributing the same to the secular and tolerant fabric of the country's Hindu majority. In an interview given to PTI Videos, the Minority Affairs Minister proclaimed India to be the most secure place for minority groups.
Throughout the discussion, Rijiju mentioned that he has never come across a single instance of a minority person wanting to depart the nation because of deprivation or fear. He mentioned that allegations made to the contrary were politically motivated.
He blamed "the Left ecosystem supported by the Congress party" for going on and on about a story that minorities in India are "tortured, butchered, lynched and killed," going on to say that such depictions cause more harm than good to the country's international reputation.
Replying to a query regarding an earlier assertion by his predecessor, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who referred to India as "heaven for minorities," Rijiju reiterated that India's foundation is upon law, secularism, and the Constitution. "Whether majority or minority, everyone is the same," he replied.
Pointing to legal parity in the nation, Rijiju said: "Now, having made that statement I can confidently make this statement that whatever the majority community receives, the minority communities receive that but there are things which minorities receive and the majority community does not receive."
Looking back at India's history of taking in persecuted communities, Rijiju mentioned several examples of refugees from neighboring countries. "If you see the history in summary, there were some issues in Tibet because of the Chinese occupation and the Tibetans migrated to India. There were some democratic movements and issues in Myanmar and the democratic activists migrated to India. There were some issues in Sri Lanka, the Lankan Tamils migrated to India. There was minority persecution in Bangladesh, they all migrated to India.". From Pakistan, Afghanistan (most of them came to India)," he remembered.
India was picked by these groups as a sanctuary due to their trust in the Indian Constitution and its people, Rijiju explained. "Finally, they all wish to seek refuge here because they have faith in the Constitution of India and the people of India. That's the reason why they come here," he further added.
While admitting that sporadic violent episodes have been seen—mainly under Congress governments—he asserted that overall India is a haven for minorities of all kinds.
"There has been a continuous campaign of the last 11 years that minorities are not safe in India," Rijiju said. "What is India as a nation deriving out of this?" he asked, wondering what there is to be gained by propogating such tales.
The minister, himself belonging to a minority group, emphasized the importance of the Hindu majority in upholding the country's inclusive nature. "I must say openly this admission that the majority Hindus which are approximately 78 to 79 per cent according to the old old census.". If you look at the new census later on when it is released, this percentage can be decreased but I don't know as yet. But due to the Hindu majority, all the minorities are having the complete freedom and protection in this nation," he said.
He added, "Suppose I am in Pakistan. Suppose we were made part of Bangladesh at the time of partition. We would have been refugees today. Today, every tribal community, every minority community is secure and safe in his or her own homeland because the majority Hindu community is secular by nature and tolerant by temperament.
Rijiju asked individuals to accept this fact instead of disparaging it. "That is why India is a desired destination for all minority communities," he stated. "If you don't value the fact, then you are doing the biggest injustice to the nation."
On whether Muslims are as secure in India, the minister conceded that there can be individual fears in Hindu groups in Muslim-majority areas. I have some of the Hindus saying that they feel threatened by some of the Muslim majority pockets in the country. Perhaps some individual incidents, perhaps some Hindus saying that there is a Muslim majority (in the area) so we feel threatened.". But I personally believe that no one should be threatened and if anyone is threatening the other community then the state government should take action," he said, emphasizing that law enforcement needs to enforce justice.
Rijiju again asserted that all citizens are equal under Indian law. "Anyone who is saying that they are not safe in India are doing the highest disservice to India as a country," he said.
Discussing the Ministry of Minority Affairs, he clarified that its schemes are directed particularly towards India's six officially declared minority groups, and all schemes of the government are equally beneficial across the nation. "The ministry of minority affairs functions with policies and skill only for minority communities. The minority communities are not denied any chance of availing the facilities from anywhere. It's equal to all," he added.
He stated that the ministry provides significant support to bridge socio-economic divides through focused funding programs for minorities.
Earlier this month, Rijiju was engaged in a testy exchange with AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi over his earlier remark that India gives more benefits and protection to minorities than to the majority.
Owaisi, in a stinging tweet on X, wrote, "You are a Minister of the Indian Republic, not a king. @KirenRijiju You have a constitutional office, not a throne. Minority rights are basic rights, not alms." He further commented, "India's minorities are not even second-class citizens anymore. We are hostages."
In response, Rijiju wrote on X, “Ok… How come Minorities from our neighbouring countries prefer to come to India & our Minorities don’t migrate? Prime Minister @narendramodi ji’s welfare schemes are for all. The schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs provide additional benefits to the Minorities.”
Owaisi responded firmly and said, "If we do not migrate then we are content. In fact, we are not in the practice of running away: we did not run away from the British, we did not run away at the time of partition, and we did not run away due to Jammu, Nellie, Gujarat, Moradabad, Delhi etc massacres. Our history is testimony to the fact that we neither cooperate with our oppressors nor retreat from them."
He further added, "We know how to fight for our democratic rights and we will inshallah. Stop comparing our great nation with failed states like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal & Sri Lanka. Jai Hind, Jai Samvidhan! Thank you for your attention in this matter!"
Rijiju had also earlier said that there is no other nation in the world that gives minorities so many rights and privileges as India, and highlighted that each Indian citizen is treated equally irrespective of religion or background.
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