New Delhi: Stoking a controversy, Union Minister Satya Pal Singh Baghel claimed that "tolerant Muslims can be counted on fingers" and it too "was a tactic to lead a public life wearing a mask" as it leads to vice-president, governor or vice-chancellor posts. But the real face of such "so-called intellectuals" from the community gets revealed after they complete their term in office or retire, he alleged.
The Union minister of state for law and justice made the comments on Monday while addressing the Dev Rishi Narad Patrakar Samman Samaroh -- an event organised by the RSS' media wing Indraprastha Vishwa Samvad Kendra to present awards to journalists. "Tolerant Muslims can be counted on fingers. I think their number is not even in the thousands. And, that too is a tactic to live in public life wearing the mask as the route leads to the house of vice president, governor or vice chancellor," Baghel said.
"But when they retire, they give real statements. When they leave the chair, they give a statement which shows their reality," he added. The Union minister's remarks came after Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar, in his speech at the event, said that India must fight Islamic fundamentalism but the "tolerant Muslims should be taken along".
Referring to Mughal emperor Akbar's efforts to foster Hindu-Muslim unity during his rule, Mahurkar claimed that Chhatrapati Shivaji had seen him in a "positive light". "Akbar tried his best to achieve Hindu-Muslim unity," he said. Dismissing the remarks, Baghel, however, termed Akbar's efforts mere "tactics" and alleged that the Mughal emperor's marriage with Jodha Bai was part of his "political strategy".