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| "BJP Not Against Muslims, Islamic Nations Honoured PM Modi": Rajnath Singh | | | 
Agencies
BIHAR, May 2: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh debunked the Opposition charge that the BJP was creating a Hindu-Muslim divide, highlighting the goodwill enjoyed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in several Islamic countries.
The former BJP president, who addressed election rallies in Bihar's Supaul and Saran Lok Sabha constituencies, urged the minority community to be wary of the Congress and its ally RJD, charging the opposition parties with "seeking votes by kicking sand in your face".
"In at least five Islamic countries of the Arab world, PM Modi has been conferred with the highest honour. And they (the Opposition) have the temerity of charging us with (creating divisions) between Hindus and Muslims," Mr Singh said
"I would, however, urge my Muslim brethren not to be ensnared by these people and parties like RJD and Congress, who are trying to get your votes by kicking sand in your face," he said.
Mr Singh also said reservations along religious lines are not possible under the Constitution.
"Of course, there is a provision for quotas for the backward classes and those sections of the Muslim population that are lagging are covered under the same," he said.
"Muslims should also understand our motive behind illegalising triple talaq. How can one tolerate such a practice which inflicted untold miseries upon so many Muslim sisters and daughters? We took action without worrying about electoral consequences. I am glad to see that our stand against triple talaq has been appreciated by many Muslims," the defence minister said.
Mr Singh also claimed that the NDA was on course to achieve its target of 400-plus Lok Sabha seats, and "a beginning" has been made in Surat, where the BJP candidate was elected unopposed, and in Indore, where the Congress nominee withdrew his nomination and joined the BJP.
"Now, the Opposition is crying hoarse that this would imperil democracy. Let me tell you that since Independence, at least 28 candidates have been elected unopposed. Twenty of them belonged to the Congress and two were from its ally Samajwadi Party," Mr Singh said.
He also said the Congress would soon become extinct "like dinosaurs" and "future generations would have to be told that something called the Congress existed".
"Mahatma Gandhi wanted the party to be disbanded. It seems the party is being cursed by his soul," Mr Singh said.
The defence minister said he did "not wish to speak against anybody who has been the Prime Minister since it involved an institution and not just an individual" while drawing a contrast between the rule of PM Modi and Congress PMs since Jawaharlal Nehru |
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