Terrorist groups have failed to misguide Muslim youth: Govt

Centre today said the "positive atmosphere" created among the minorities in the country after the formation of the Narendra Modi government, has "demoralised" terrorist groups and they have not succeeded in misguiding or luring Muslims youth towards nefarious activities.

Addressing the 10th annual conference of the State Minority Commissions, Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also said that the government is working in the direction to provide a sense of security among the minorities along with development.

"...a positive environment has been created among the minorities after the formation of the Narendra Modi government and this is the reason that the terrorist organisations have failed to misguide and lure Muslim youths to their nefarious activities," he said.

The anti-national forces have been "isolated and demoralised" due to strict response of Muslims against any form of terrorism, Naqvi said.

The Union minister also claimed that exploitation and arrest of innocent Muslim youths in connection with terror or other anti-national activities has stopped since the NDA government took charge at the Centre.

Observing that discrimination and political exploitation has been an "obstruction" in the path of development of the minority communities, Naqvi said, there is a need to move forward with linking the development of minorities with the nation's development.

"A strong political will is needed to instill a feeling of development alongwith security among the minorities.

In this regard, he said Prime Minister Modi's development mantra of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' is a sign of this "honest political will".