New Delhi: Vice President Hamid Ansari was on the receiving end of criticism heaped by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after his remarks suggested that the state must take correctional measures so as to improve the condition of Muslims who were being discriminated against.
The VHP spokesperson branded Ansari's remarks as communal, adding that it did not behove well for the dignity of a vice president.
“With due respect to the Vice President’s chair, VHP condemns this communal statement. This is a political statement.… which does not befit the office of a Vice President,” VHP Joint General Secretary Surendra Jain said.
He said Indian Muslims enjoy more constitutional rights than they do in many Muslim countries, claiming that they have been appeased by various means over the years.
"He must apologize for his remarks. If not, he should resign from his post and enter politics," Jain said.
Also, BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya too condemned Ansari's remarks saying that his statements violated the sanctity of a constitutional post.
उपराष्ट्रपति का पद एक संवैधानिक पद है जिसका सम्वन्ध केवल देश से होता है किसी दल या धर्म से नहीं। हामिद अंसारी जी... http://t.co/izNbIC7ZcA
— Kailash Vijayvargiya (@KailashOnline) September 1, 2015
The Vice President, speaking at the inauguration of the All India Majlois-e-Mushawarat Golden Jubilee, said that identity and security, education and empowerment and fair share in decision making are the principal problems confronting India's Muslims and the default in terms of exclusion and discrimination have to be corrected by the state.
He also cited the official objective of "sab ke sath, sab ka vikas" (with everyone, for everyone's growth) calling it commendable and added a pre-requisite for this is "affirmative action" to ensure a common starting point and ability in all to walk at the required pace.
He said that exclusion and discrimination including failure to provide security has to be corrected by the state at the earliest and appropriate instruments developed for it.
With PTI Inputs
