Assam Guv’s ‘Hindustan for Hindus’ remarks stir row

Guwahati, November 22

Assam Governor PB Acharya has stoked a controversy by reportedly saying that "Hindustan is for Hindus". It has drawn a sharp criticism from the Congress that said it was reflective of the divisive ideology of the RSS and the BJP which has led to incidents such as Dadri lynching.

Acharya's attempt today to clarify the alleged remarks he made yesterday at a book launch function further stirred up the row after he said "Muslims in India are free to go anywhere....If they want to go to Pakistan, Bangladesh, they are free to go".

"Hindustan is for Hindus. There is nothing wrong with that. Hindus from different countries can stay here. They cannot be outsiders," the Governor was quoted as saying by the media.

As his reported remarks came under fire, Acharaya today said what he meant was that all Indian-origin people, including Muslims, persecuted in any foreign lands were welcome in the country. "We should keep in mind, only because a person is persecuted because of his religion in any country, if Indian Christian is persecuted in Pakistan, he has to come to India. Where else will he go? Indian Christian, Indian Buddhist, Indian Jain, Indian Hindu.

"If a European Christian is persecuted or a European Hindu...if he is persecuted in Belgium, he cannot come to India...

"Indian Muslims are free to go anywhere. They can stay here if they want to stay here, many have gone to Pakistan. If they want to go to Pakistan, Bangladesh, they are free to go. If they are persecuted there, Taslima Nasreen (author) was persecuted there, she came here. If they come we'll give them shelter. India is big-hearted," he said.

The Congress today termed Acharya's remarks as "unfortunate and shocking" as they came from a person holding a "constitutional post".

"It is clearly indicative of the way RSS and BJP functionaries think and continue to think even when they are on a constitutional post. Bondage or umbilical cords with parent remote organisations, be it the RSS or the BJP, should be severed when you assume a constitutional post," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.

Singhvi said the same ideology led to a culture of absolute divisiveness, intolerance, mutual enmity, trust deficit over the past 18 months. "You have been hearing from MPs, MLAs, ministers and now from a Governor," he said. — PTI