Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Prime Minister's speech at the National Development Council on Saturday provoked a sharp reaction both from the BJP and the PM's media adviser, but for different reasons.
"The Prime Minister should apologise to the nation saying this is not proper," said BJP Spokesperson V K Malhotra.
The Prime Minister's address delivered at the meeting of the National Development Council has come as a handy political weapon for the BJP. And they are preparing for a battle in the Parliament on Monday.
The Prime Minister's office has clarified that Manmohan Singh had the welfare of all the marginalised sections of society in mind. It included the minorities.
"When Prime Minister says these will have first claim on resources, he is not just talking about the Muslims. He is talking about agriculture, irrigation, water resources, health, education, infrastructure, schedule castes, schedule tribes, backward classes, women, children and minorities. And of course he says that specially Muslims, because among the minorities, they are the most deprived," said Media Adviser to the Prime Minister Sanjaya Baru.
Obviously, any hint of preferential treatment for minorities will be grabbed by the BJP and the PMO was obviously aware of the political fallout in its explanations.
"Prime Minister has said many times India must shine, but India must shine for all. And this is the essence of shining for all that every section of Indian society must shine. And those who are deprived, those who are weaker sections, those who are depressed sections, those who are marginalised sections – whether it's a region or community, they must get extra attention of the Government," said Sanjaya Baru.
The BJP is buying none of these explanations and are insisting this is nothing but minority appeasement.
"Where are they going? Where are they leading to? It's a mere grace for Muslim votes," said V K Malhotra.
The mercury dipped both outside and inside parliament this past week. But, it looks like the Parliament would become noisy and indisciplined again from Monday.
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