Did riots not take place during Cong rule? Rajnath to Muslims

With the BJP being constantly targeted over Gujarat riots, party president Rajnath Singh today alleged it was being defamed and maligned continuously under a "planned conspiracy".

He said BJP did not believe in politics of divide and creating differences among people, and appealed the Muslim community to help removing the "widespread confusion".
"BJP is defamed and maligned continuously under a planned conspiracy. You all have seen our government in the Centre when Atal Behari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. Who can say that we did politics by creating differences between humans?," he told a group of Muslim leaders who met him at the party office here.

"Our opposition parties allege that BJP is the party which creates enmity (nafrat) between Hindus and Muslims...I want to make an appeal to you people. If anyone can remove this widespread confusion, only you people can do this and this beginning should be made from Delhi," he said.

Stressing that BJP's ideology did not believe in dividing people, he said, "Our ideology and our political thought wants to give only this message that we don't want to create enmity between humans and we don't want to make our government by creating divide."

"If we want to make a government, then we want to base it on the politics of humanity and justice," Singh said.

He also alleged that many more riots have taken place in the country during the Congress regimes.

"Did riots not take place during Congress rule? I can say with confidence that during Congress rule, many more riots took place...We have our government in several of the states...if a riot takes place anywhere, then it should not be assumed that BJP instigated the riot," Singh said.

"If we want to develop this, it will not be possible till people from all sections and society come together," the BJP President said.

Rajnath also addressed a gathering of farmers at the party office, highlighting the issues regarding agriculture loan and reducing profit margin.

"I am aware how farmers are being neglected. In last eight years, the central government has given Rs 22-24 lakh crore to business and industries. But when it comes to giving a subsidy of Rs 50,000 crore or Rs one lakh crore to farmers, then this government backtracks. Why this should happen?," he said.

Rajnath said that the country will not be able to join the list of developed nations untill farmers are prosperous and empowered here.

"The so-called intellectuals and progressive people claim that India is making rapid advances in becoming intellectual capital of the world. I welcome if India becomes intellectual capital of world. There cannot be any opposition to that. But attempts should be made so that India becomes the agricultural capital of the world," he said.

The BJP leader recalled that as a Minister in Vajpayee government he lowered the interest on agriculture loan and had set up a farmers commission for such tasks.

"I had told its members that rate of interest on farmer's loan should not be more than four per cent.... You will be happy to know that in several BJP ruled states farmers are provided loans at one per cent and zero per cent rate of interest," he said.

Rajnath also suggested that no interest should be charged for one year after giving agri-loans.

He suggested organising a detailed meeting to discuss the issues and said it will be part of BJP's election manifesto.

Suggesting that MNREGA should be linked to agriculture, he said, "There is an issue of MNREGA also, because of MNREGA we don't get agriculture labourers."