Indore: Union Minister for Steel and Mines Narendra Singh Tomar yesterday had to face questions from BJP youth wing workers on the party's traditional Hindutva agenda and the black money issue.
Speaking at an interaction organised by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Tomar said to a question about "Hindu state" that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made it clear that "all the 125 crore Indians were equal and there was no room for discrimination."
To another question, the minister said, "BJP is committed to construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya but the matter is pending in the court. BJP will welcome the court's verdict."
Asked about Article 370 of the Constitution which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, he said, "BJP has not entered into any secret compromise over this with ally PDP in that state. Even now we want this Article to be abolished, while PDP wants it to continue. Therefore, both the parties have decided to maintain silence over the issue."
To a question on the land acquisition bill, he said it promises more compensation to farmers (than the earlier law).
On the issue of black money, he said, "The Union Government has initiated steps in this direction. In the days to come, people who have kept black money ashore will end up in jail."
