All Modi ministers empowered: Rajnath

Allaying apprehensions of power being centralized in a few hands in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government, union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that all the Ministers are free to take decisions. He also rejected the charge of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, saying the NDA government has no intention to run Delhi through the L-G.

Highlighting NDA’s one year of achievements, Singh on Friday clarified that no minister in the Narendra Modi government is “<g data-gr-id="34">ashakta</g>” (powerless). “We believe in the philosophy of less talk and more work. What do you think? Koi <g data-gr-id="35">ashakta</g> <g data-gr-id="36">nahi</g> <g data-gr-id="37">hain</g>. Sabhi log <g data-gr-id="39">sashakta</g> <g data-gr-id="40">hain</g> (No one is powerless. All are empowered),” Singh said in a press conference.

Sensing that his statement might be interpreted wrongly, he was quick to add that “there is no doubt that the Prime Minister (Modi) is running the government.” On Central government’s ongoing spat with Delhi government over <g data-gr-id="28">host</g> of issues, he said: “We do not have any objections to the working of the Delhi government. However, it is important to uphold the Constitutional provisions.”

When asked to compare “<g data-gr-id="31">acche</g> din” (good days) and publicity during his term as party president and now as union Minister, he said: “I get publicity even without speaking. Hum <g data-gr-id="32">sada</g> bahar <g data-gr-id="33">hain</g> (I am a man for all seasons).”

 While acknowledging that building of Ram temple in Ayodhya is an important issue and the Centre would welcome an out of court settlement, he said, “Presently we are focusing on <g data-gr-id="24">development</g> agenda.”

On the beef controversy and suggestions made by his colleague Mukhtar Abas Naqvi  that beef eaters should go to Pakistan, he said: “All those who are in India will stay in India.” On Kashmiri separatists waving Pakistani flags in the region, he said, there would be no compromise on people involved in such acts and strict action would be taken.