HYDERABAD: Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Ghulam Nabi Azad has admitted that the minorities have been alienated from the Congress after the Ayodhya incidents, He, however, cautioned the minorities that if they went against the Congress, it would go to the BJP’s advantage.

In an interview, Azad said that though the Congress’s actions had decisions may be debatable, the minorities should keep in mind that only (he Congress can effectively combat communal forces as the Janata Dal, CPI, CPM, etc, are regional pasties.

When asked to comment on Arjun Singh’s suggestion that the Congress should offer an apology to the nation for the demolition of the Babri Masjid, Azad replied: “There is nothing bad about it but the question is who should apologize for what.” Without naming anyone, he said the Suggestion amounted to “a political tamasha.”

When asked whether he was hopeful of mustering the minorities support for the Congress in next elections, the Union Minister admitted that there was not much hope.

As to what role he envisaged for himself bringing the alienated Muslims back into the Congress fold, he said: “It is not easy to play any such role. Time is a great healer.”

He alleged that the Muslims were being deliberately entangled in non-issues like the Mandir Masjid controversy, when in fact their economic backwardness is the real problem, “But unfortunately

Muslims get swayed by emotional problems,” he regretted.

On relations with Israel, Azad said that when the Arabs themselves have started mending fences and the Palestinians are also involved in peace talks, there is no harm in India establishing cordial relations with Israel.

When his attention was drawn to the fact that Muslims in India are not happy with the change in India’s policy towards Israel and the effect this could have on the Congress’ prospects in any forthcoming polls, he said Indian Muslims should think about their own problems and economic conditions rather than what is happening in Israel.

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 4, 1993