Pune: The unity and integrity of the country could only be best achieved by pampering and appeasing the minorities, Member of Parliament (MP) and chairman of Kashmir Committee Ram Jethmalani said on January 25.

"The minorities must be made to feel that they are special objects of protection," he told reporters on the sidelines of a national seminar on Constitutional Law.

"No doubt, in India, some minorities historically have had certain extra-territorial centres of loyalties. But large numbers of minorities are loyal to India because they have been brought up here and associated with this country. Hence, it is necessary to appease them and take them in your lap," he said.

"A time will come when the minorities will cease to be minorities. Till then, to achieve national integration, it is important to ensure complete satisfaction of the minority communities," Jethmalani added.

Referring to the Gujarat riots, Jethmalani said, "Had the majority community shown tolerance and not retaliated in the aftermath of Godhra, it would have made better impact on the minorities."

Jethmalani said the Kashmiri Muslims were feeling alienated from India. "It is necessary to conquer their hearts, not by force, but by love," he said.

To a question on the performance of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, the eminent lawyer said, "He (Mufti) needs greater support from the Centre. He wants to talk to Hurriyat, but the Centre after agreeing made a flip-flop on the issue."

"I cannot understand why the government is reluctant to hold talks with Hurriyat. When we have held talks with Pakistan, why should there be reluctance to talk to them (Hurriyat)?" he asked.

PTI