The usual notions of minorities not valid in Indian context: Government

NEW DELHI: The usual notions of minorities and their alienation are not valid in the Indian context, a global meet in the US was told by the Narendra Modi government while citing the "pro-active" steps taken by the Centre and states to strengthen bonds between various communities.

The Indian delegation cited the success story of recently-held election in "Muslim majority" Jammu and Kashmir in which 65 per cent electorates cast their votes to highlight the strength of liberal plural secular democracy of the country.

Addressing the 'White House summit to counter violent extremism' held in Washington last week, the delegation said the government was taking proactive measures to ensure socio-economic and political integration of different communities, including over 180 million Muslim population.

The usual notions of minorities and their alienation are not valid in the Indian context, said the leader of the Indian team R N Ravi, who is Chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee, at the seminar attended by representatives of 60 countries.

"Going by the usual definition of minority, their population is over 260 million i.e. over 21 per cent of India's population. There are over 180 million Muslims in India," he said.