Modi govt made highway of development: Naqvi

Mumbai: Union minister for states Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi  on Saturday said that the Modi government was doing phenomenal work and had created a “highway of development” by removing the “speed breakers” of religion, region and caste.

The senior BJP leader was speaking at the inauguration of “Hunar Haat”, an exhibition of traditional crafts and cuisines organised at the Bandra-Kurla Complex.

“There is talk of development everywhere. The status of the country has grown in the world since Mr Modi took over. The government has created a highway of development by removing the speed breakers of religion, region and caste,” he said.

The Union minister also spoke about empowerment. He informed that the “Hunar Haat” exhibitions being organised across the country had proved to be empowering for artisans and craftsmen. “Such employment-oriented programmes of the Modi government have significantly encouraged and promoted the rich heritage of master artisans, which remained marginalised for a long time," said Mr Naqvi.

Mr Naqvi said that ‘Hunar Haat’ had become a credible brand to fulfill the PM’s commitment of “Make in India”, “Stand up India” and “Startup India”. He added that in the last one year, they had provided employment opportunities to over 150,000 artisans and others. “The government aimed at providing employment to around five lakh people through the ‘Hunar Haat’ this year,” he said. The exhibition-cum-sale inaugurated by Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will remain open till December 31.

Amid the controversy over actor Naseeruddin Shah’s remarks on mob violence, Mr Naqvi said that the veteran actor’s children need not feel scared as tolerance was in the DNA of the country.

Mr Naqvi, while referring to Shah's remarks, also said that a mountain was being made out of a molehill. “I think his emotions may have been right, but his words were probably misconstrued and a mountain out of a molehill was made. India is a tolerant country. Tole-rance and harmony are in the DNA of the country and despite any circumstances, nobody succeeded in destroying the strong legacy,” he said.

In the wake of the killing of a policeman in Bulandshahr earlier this month, Mr Shah had said that the death of a cow was being given importance over this killing in the violence.