BJP to go solo in 2017 UP Assembly polls: Naqvi

“BJP will contest the coming 2017 Assembly elections on its own and form its government,” Naqvi, who was here to attend a private function, told reporters on Friday night. Speaking on the DDCA controversy involving Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Naqvi said the senior BJP leader was “clean and honest” and lashed out at the Aam Aadmi Party, which he said was indulging in drama. 

The minister of state for minorities also accused the Congress of stalling country’s development.

“Congress having feudal and imperial mentality does not want development of the country,” he said as he labelled the party as “the mother of corruption”.

Speaking on the terror attack at Pathankot air base, Naqvi said extremists have realised that their designs would never succeed in India due to the “tough attitude” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards terror and the high morale of security forces for dealing with such situations.

Also, amidst speculation as to what impact the attack would have on the peace talks between India and Pakistan, the minister spoke of the “BJP government’s policy of generating, maintaining and furthering very good relationship” with the neighbouring country.

Pointing at the operation on Saturday by security forces following the terror strike in Pathankot, he said that the way the attack was “mercilessly crushed” shows that India is geared up to respond to such activities.”