New Delhi: Faced with swirling attack from Opposition on a range of controversies, the government on Saturday put up a brave front, saying it was totally focused on development for all sections and that undue importance has been given to issues like conversion and celebration of good governance day.
Strongly defending the government, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said it was wrong to say that governance has been overshadowed by controversies and accused Congress of disrupting functioning of Rajya Sabha for political gain.
Asked specifically to comment on Dharam Jagran Manch chief Rajeshwar Singh's controversial comment regarding stay of Muslims in India, the Communications and IT Minister said, "Let me say we do not appreciate it."
"We are for good governance, for development. That is our focus. That will remain our focus. When Modi says 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas', it includes Hindus, Muslims, tribals, Christians everybody," he said.
Asked whether good governance was overwhelmed and overtaken by silence by government on issues like conversion and treatment of Christians, he said "Not the least."
On RSS-linked groups' conversion programme in Uttar Pradesh, Prasad said the government was against any conversion by allurement and put the onus on stopping such activities on the Samajwadi Party dispensation in the state.
"Any conversion by allurement, we never support. Some issues have come. There are one view or the other... The state government can take action if they so wish," he told Karan Thapar of Headlines Today.
Asked to comment on criticism following government's decision to designate Christmas Day as good governance day, Prasad said, "On December 25 Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born. He did not select his birthday. Did he?"
When referred to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's comment on Gita, he said, "When we talk of Gita, we talk as the great civilisational heritage, cultural heritage" and added that "Constitution is certainly the top most document of the country."
