'Parties doing appeasement must not hurt Indian pride'

Asserting that it belonged as much to the majority as to the minorities, the BJP today warned parties indulging in politics of appeasement to refrain from hurting India's national pride.

"Parties doing politics of appeasement for decades have no regard for anything. They don't hesitate in breaking the nation for their selfish political ends," BJP National spokesman Gaurav Bhatia said reacting to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's 'Hindu Pakistan' remark.

"They even go as far as calling India Hindu Pakistan," he added without taking any names.

"What I want to tell them is that criticism is welcome but don't hurt (our) national pride by comparing a democratic country like ours with a terrorist country like Pakistan," he said further.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) believes in the empowerment of all and appeasement of none, Bhatia said.

"Unlike those who believe in using the minorities by making false promises and offering them crutches we believe in appeasement of none and empowerment of all. In the last four years we have shown how it can be done," he said. "The unequivocal stand taken by Narendra Modi government on Triple Talaq in the Supreme Court shows its commitment towards fighting for the fundamental rights of Muslim women. It also reflects BJP's belief in the empowerment of all," he added.

On the contrary, the so-called champions of Muslim women opposed scrapping triple talaq, he added.

The BJP leader also questioned the timing of the clamour for setting up Shariat courts in all districts at a time when the Supreme Court was soon going to start hearing in nikah halala.

"Making a pitch for Shariat courts at a time when the apex court is going to hear nikah halala. The timing is dubious," Bhatia said in reply to a question.

Enlisting the achievements of Modi government, he spoke of steps taken to empower women especially the underprivileged through schemes like Ujjwala, construction of toilets and rural electrification.

He also spoke of implementation of OROP which was hanging fire for decades and the ordinance through which a provision was made for capital punishment for those convicted of raping minor girls.

"Our Prime Minister inspires confidence in people because of being well-intentioned and having the ability to work harder than anybody else. He works for 18 hours a day and under his ever watchful eye corruption cannot grow," Bhatia said.

He also praised Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat for announcing to bring in a legislation in the state assembly which will pave the way for sending rapists of minors to the gallows.