Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has called for educational and social empowerment of the weaker sections of the society to stop their political exploitation. He said that development without discrimination is the priority of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government.

Mr Naqvi was speaking after laying the foundation stone for a school building at Dr MIJ Girls High School and Junior College run by Anjuman-e-Islam in suburban Bandra, Mumbai yesterday.

The Minority Affairs Minister said scholarships have been provided to more than 3.11 crore students belonging to minority communities, including about 60 per cent girl students, in the last three-four years.

He said amount of scholarships is now deposited directly into bank accounts of students though the DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) mode in a transparent manner that has eliminated middlemen.

Mr Naqvi further said Modi government’s efforts for educational empowerment of all weaker sections, including minorities, have yielded results at the ground level.