From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 8: Higher Education, IT/BT, Science and Technology and Skills Development Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan said education was the only way for development and competition should be between advanced countries like America, China or Japan and not between Hindus, Muslims or Christians or people of different castes.

Inaugurating the BJP Minority Morcha Executive Committee deliberations in Bengaluru on Sunday, Dr Narayan asserted people belonging to minority communities, especially Muslims, must make the best use of opportunities available and ensure that the community progresses on par with other communities.

"We should try to solve our own problems and education should be path for development. Education should help us build bridges with communities," he said.

Dr Narayan said mere land holding or wealth does not help in progress. Progress and development can be achieved with education, knowledge or natural resources, he said.

The Higher Education Minister said it was regrettable that the number of educated people among Muslims was very less and the community should make concerted efforts to set right the situation.

Former President Dr Abdul Kalam should be role model for all, especially the Muslim community, Dr Narayan said.

The Minister asserted that BJP is not against minorities and lamented that the party had been branded anti-minority by its political opponents for their political gains. It was necessary to eschew vote bank or appeasement politics and work unitedly for the emancipation of society, he said calling upon the leaders of Morcha and its workers to correct the false propaganda.

BJP National Minority Morcha President Jamal Siddiqui, General Secretary Syed Ibrahim, State Minority Morcha President Muzamil Ahmed Babu and BJP MLC Ravikumar and others participated in the meeting.