New Delhi, Dec 14 (IANS): Saying India was not a majoritarian state, Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday said the government was committed to protecting the minorities.
Replying to supplementaries in the Rajya Sabha, he said that detailed guidelines were laid down by the central government in 2008 on maintaining communal harmony.
"The government has always been concerned about minorities... the minorities are entitled to protection," Chidambaram said, amid protests by members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"We are not a majoritarian regime," he added.
The minister sought the support of state governments in implementing those guidelines.
Asked about action against police officers responsible for wrongful detention and torture, Chidambaram said it was not correct to blame police but added that in some cases a magisterial probe had been ordered.