Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the State should maintain law and order to prevent communal tensions. While reacting to the Opposition’s charges that the Sangh Parivar was creating tensions across the country, Singh put the ball in the court of the State Governments and said that the States can’t absolve from responsibility in maintaining communal harmony.
“law and order is the prerogative of State Governments. The State Governments should take stern actions if there is any such communal tension. It is the duty of the States. Tell me, how the Centre can intervene in a State subjectIJ” Singh asked, reiterating that the Centre is bound to act by the Constitution.
Hinting that the BJP Government was being targeted for political reasons, he said in the lok Sabha that he had figures to prove his point but refrained from making them public as he was not interested in doing politics over such a sensitive issue.
“It is bad that we bring these issues for political purposes. It is not good for the country. I want to assure, especially the minorities, that Government will protect them with all its might,” he said.
Responding to concerns voiced by Opposition members over churches being targeted, he asserted that Government will not tolerate anything that disturbs communal harmony. He added, “If it happens in Delhi, we will take strict action. I think justice is not being done to the Centre if it is blamed for what happens in states.”
He referred to a recent attack on a church in Agra in UP and said he was “sad” about it and added that he was not aware of what action the State Government had taken on it.
The Home Minister said attacks on religious places have been occurring for long and there have also been instances of vandalism and theft at temples.