NEW DELHI: Muslim intellectuals, ulemas and political leaders have urged the minority community to extend support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his government's policy push for development of the country.

The community leaders, gathered at a conference of Muslims organized by former JD (U) Rajya Sabha MP Sabir Ali , talked of unity of Muslims for development of the community while urging thousands of participants from across the country to engage Modi as he is now leader of the whole country and not of a party.

Addressing the Qaumi Ittehad conference at the Talkatora stadium, Ali said the new government must be given an opportunity to ensure welfare of the Muslim community. "Let us come out of past, join hands to strengthen the government led by PM Modi ji," he said, attacking previous Congress governments for exploiting Muslims as vote-bank.

Ali said that any introspection of the post independence era left Muslims with a sense of frustration and alienation as the steps taken by successive governments were without any commitment and were aimed at wooing minorities for political gains.

Praising Modi for his slogan of "sab ka saath, sab ka vikas" (together with all, development for all), Ali said that the NDA government must be complimented for taking a pledge to carry out development without any discrimination against anyone.

He said that Modi government must be given a chance to see how accommodative it becomes for Muslims in sharing power and in terms of development. "A fair trial should be accorded to the new government to see what it has to offer to the minority people. If we were satisfied with the performance within a reasonable time period, the minorities' support to the government will continue. Otherwise, new course will be open to us," he said while praising Modi for his statement that "Muslims of my country can't be terrorists".

Ali also criticized opposition parties for attacking Modi, saying that political adversaries were discrediting the BJP government by leveling false and flimsy charges.