New Delhi, July 19: Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju has stated that minorities in India are safe and enjoy full freedom and protection primarily because of the Hindu majority. In a detailed interview with PTI Videos, Rijiju emphasised that India remains a secular democracy where the Constitution guarantees equality for all, irrespective of religious background.
“Whether one belongs to a minority or a majority community, everybody is equal before the law,” Rijiju said, underlining the foundational principles of the Indian Constitution. He also asserted that he has never come across any instance where a member of a minority community expressed a desire to leave the country due to discrimination or deprivation.
The Minister criticised what he described as a sustained misinformation campaign by the “Left ecosystem backed by the Congress party” that paints an alarming picture of the condition of minorities in India. “There’s been a constant campaign over the last 11 years portraying minorities as being tortured, butchered, lynched, and killed. These portrayals are not only false but also harmful to the nation,” he said.
Rijiju referred to his predecessor Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi’s statement that India is a “heaven” for minorities, agreeing that the country offers unparalleled freedom and opportunities. “Whatever the majority community gets, minorities also get. In fact, there are schemes and provisions that specifically benefit minorities, which the majority community does not have,” he pointed out.
Speaking on the migration of persecuted communities from neighbouring countries, Rijiju said, “People from Tibet, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan have taken shelter in India because they trust our Constitution and the people of this country.” He argued that such trust is evidence of India’s inclusive and secure environment for all communities.
Highlighting India’s communal harmony, he said, “If we had been part of Pakistan or Bangladesh during partition, many of us would have been refugees. Today, every tribal and minority community lives securely in their homeland because the Hindu majority is secular and tolerant by nature.”
Rijiju, who himself hails from a minority tribal community, said it is important to appreciate this reality instead of propagating divisive narratives. “If you don’t appreciate the reality, then you are doing the greatest disservice to the country,” he remarked.
When asked whether Muslims in India feel equally safe, Rijiju acknowledged that some Hindus have reported feeling unsafe in Muslim-majority localities. However, he insisted that “nobody should feel threatened” and that such concerns must be addressed by respective state governments. “Everyone is equal and safe in India, and the law must act against those who try to create fear,” he said.
