Hamid Ansari’s parting barb annoys his successor Venkaiah Naidu

NEW DELHI: ON the last day of outgoing vice president Hamid Ansari’s tenure, vice president-elect M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday rejected as “political propaganda” the view that there is a sense of insecurity among minorities in the country, apparently as a rejoinder to Ansari.

Though Naidu did not name anyone, his comments were seen as a response to Ansari’s remarks in a TV interview that there was unease and a sense of insecurity among Muslims in the country, and that “ambience of acceptance” is now under threat.

“Some people are saying minorities are insecure. It is a political propaganda. Compared to the entire world, minorities are more safe and secure in India and they get their due,” Naidu said. He also disagreed with the view that there is growing intolerance, saying the Indian society is the most tolerant in the world because of its people and civilisation.