NDA's welfare schemes building minorities' confidence in BJP, says Najma Heptulla

New Delhi: Union minister Najma Heptulla on Tuesday said BJP’s win in Assam Assembly polls suggested rising confidence of the minorities in the party because of the NDA  government’s public welfare schemes.

As compared to UPA, the NDA government made available more  funds for the welfare of six minority communities in the  country and focus is being laid on the execution of the  schemes meant for them, Heptulla said while speaking to  reporters.  

“The fear among minorities has definitely gone down and  confidence has been developed. Confidence building takes some  time.  

“The focus of the Narendra Modi government is mainly on  sab ka sath, sab ka vikas (inclusive growth). And the Assam  Assembly poll result suggests that confidence is building  among people,” Heptulla said.

She said the NDA government is engaged in “politics of development” unlike the “politics of division” of rival parties and BJP will be able to do well in the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and other states too.

She said the NDA government made available 18.4 per cent more funds under the multi-sectoral development programme (MSDP) for minorities as compared to UPA.

In 2012-13 and 2013-14, the UPA government had released Rs 641.26 crore and Rs 953.21 crore, respectively, for MSDP. The NDA government gave Rs 767.86 crore in 2014-15 and Rs 1120.34 crore for 2015-16, she said.

“So, we have accomplished both qualitative and quantitative achievements. By qualitative achievement we mean the confidence building among minorities, while quantitative achievement is the number of children benefited,” she said.