Rejecting the view that sectarian hatred is on the rise under the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, and that the intolerance debate triggered off BJP's poll debacle in Bihar, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said BJP is the most secular party in the country.

He also offered to have a dialogue with the dissenting writers, filmmakers and artistes, who have returned government awards for protesting against the rising intolerance in the country. "If there is one party that is secular, it is BJP," Singh said.

Singh has been the only one in the government who has not taken an aggressive stand against those returning awards while the BJP has in the past called it a manufactured protest. "I welcome those returning awards to have a dialogue. We are willing to hear them out as their suggestions are valuable and should be deliberated upon," Singh said while interacting with journalists on Tuesday.

Also read: Advani, other veterans speak up on Bihar loss, seek accountability



Several BJP leaders have faced criticism for making communally charged statements recently.

Assessing the defeat faced by BJP in Bihar, the Home Minister said the party failed to read the social equations in the state and out rightly rejected suggestions that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's quota review remark had a negative impact on NDA's poll prospects in Bihar.

"Bhagwat's statement was not damaging. It was nothing controversial. We can't think like that. He had only said that reservation should continue," Singh said.

Bhagwat had said there is a need to have a fresh look as to who should get the benefit of quota, in comments that kicked up a political storm ahead of the Bihar polls. Singh also asserted that the PM cannot be held responsible for NDA's humiliating defeat.

PM Modi's popularity intact despite Bihar loss: Pakistani media



"It's BJP's loss and not of the Prime Minister," he said.

Singh said the BJP will study and analyse all aspects of party's defeat in the polls and will take action accordingly. Victory and defeat are part of the democratic process.

"We had won elections in the past, we had lost elections in the past. We will not do justice to future if we decide future only on the basis of one elections, he added. The Home Minister was candid in admitting that the results had puzzled him as he had seen good public presence during 50 rallies addressed by him.