Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh being greeted by school children at a program in Lucknow on Saturday. (Press Trust of India photo)
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that terrorism is a "challenge", but the country will "get victory over it" even as he dismissed talk that ISIS was spreading its reach to India.
"As far as terrorism is concerned, it is a challenge, but India will get victory over it," he told reporters on the sidelines of an event at Manisha Mandir Ashram in Lucknow.
Dismissing a question that Islamic State terror group was expanding in several states of the country, the Home Minister said, "Do not worry about it, there is nothing like this."
Asked about reported claims by Pakistan that India was not ready for talks, Mr Singh said, "Let them level allegations. It has no meaning."
The senior BJP leader, meanwhile, refrained from commenting on party lawmaker RK Singh's allegation that the party was giving tickets for Bihar assembly polls to candidates with criminal antecedents.
Earlier, in his speech at the event, Mr Singh said that the Narendra Modi government was making efforts to address social concerns.
"Generally, the work of any government is related to economic and strategic issues. But for the first time in the history of the country, a government has come at the Centre which is fulfilling social concerns as well," he said.
Referring to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, Mr Singh said, "Such a campaign by the government and efforts being made to motivate people is not witnessed very frequently."
He added that with the Prime Minister having taken up the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' drive, the goal is now to balance the gender ratio to make the country prosperous.
"It is an irony that the gender ratio is not balanced in India. In all countries that are considered prosperous, gender ratio is balanced. A country and society where gender ratio is unbalanced can never prosper," he said.
Mr Singh said that while a man could be the patron of a single person, a woman is the protector of an entire family.
"Indian women have done wonders internationally. They are CEOs of global companies. Kalpana Chawla reached space. They are playing an active, effective and fruitful role in paramilitary forces and police," he said.
In recently declared UPSC examination results, girls were in top three, Mr Singh added while lauding the efforts of Sarojini Agarwal, the founder of Manisha Mandir, for taking care of destitute girls for the last 31 years.
He also distributed cheques under Manisha scholarship, a scheme launched this year, to 16 girls.