Minister of State in Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju’s tweet on declining Hindu population and conversion practices adopted by other religions created controversy, prompting Opposition leaders to rebuke him.
“Hindu population is reducing in India because Hindus never convert people. Minorities in India are flourishing unlike some countries around,” he tweeted.
Rijiju’s comment came after the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee accused the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government of trying to convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu State. “Why is Congress making such irresponsible statementsIJ People of Arunachal Pradesh are unitedly living peacefully with each other. Congress should not make such provocative statements. India is a secular country. All religious groups enjoy freedom & living peacefully (sic),” he said in a series of tweets, responding to the APCC’s charge.
Reacting to Rijiju’s “unbecoming of a Minister” statement, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said the BJP was making such statements out of “desperation” as it was “losing” in the five States where Assembly polls are being held.
“It is not surprising if the Prime Minister can use the national security as a prop. There is nothing which stops his Ministers from going a step further and trying to attempt a religious polarisation,” he said.
He said the statement “smacks of desperation” and of the fact that BJP has lost the plot.
“And It smacks of the fact that for all the tall talk about development, ultimately the BJP comes back to its basic DNA and that basic DNA is to try and garner electoral benefit out of religious polarisation,” he said.
The Congress leader said when suddenly “you wake up in the morning and shoot from the hip, this is the conduct which is unbecoming of a Minister”.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said he should remember that he is a “minister of India for all Indians not for Hindus only”.
“Remember your oath as Minister,” the Hyderabad MP said. “What have the minorities India got to do with minorities of ‘other’ countries. It is Constitution which guarantees rights,” he tweeted.
later talking to reporters, Rijiju questioned Congress for its “irresponsible” statement accusing the Narendra Modi-led BJP Government of trying to convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu State. “Why are Congress people saying something irresponsibleIJ How can Modiji convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu stateIJ What kind of statement is thisIJ” he asked.
Defending his tweets, the Minister said the minorities are feeling insecure in neighbouring countries and come to take refuge in India as it is a very tolerant country.