The Urdu journalists told the ministers that the community was hurt by Rahul's remarks about ISI getting in touch with riot-hit youth and suggested that he should withdraw his suggestion that Muslim youth could be likely recruits.
In response, rural development minister Ramesh acknowledged the controversy created by the remarks and said what they have suggested may be considered. He said even some of his non-Muslim friends had expressed dismay over the ISI comments. Ramesh, however, stressed that Rahul's intention was not to hurt anyone.
Speaking about the meeting, Inquilab editor-in-charge Abdul Hai Khan said, "One of our colleagues raised the issue saying Rahul's statement had sent a wrong message to the community and an apology should be offered. The minister said he couldn't reply on behalf of the Congress vice-president but that his intentions should not be doubted.''
The ministers, including Ramesh, minority affairs minister K Rehman Khan and planning minister Rajiv Shukla met over 20 editors on Saturday keen to emphasize programmes and schemes undertaken by the government for the welfare of minorities.
However, during the one-hour discussion, the editors raised several concerns. They sought to know the status of pending legislations including Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill and Wakf (amendment) bill.
Rashtriya Sahara Urdu's chief reporter Salim Ahmed Siddiqui said none of the editors were satisfied with the responses given by the ministers on the work done to ameliorate the condition of the community. "People were not satisfied by what the ministers were saying. If they had data related to scholarships, housing or other welfare measures, so do we that contradicts their stand,'' he said.
Abdul Hai Khan added that Ramesh said the 2014 Lok Sabha elections would be a fight between Congress and the RSS ideology rather than BJP.
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