Rijiju’s Hindu remark sparks row

New Delhi, February 13

Union Minister of State Kiren Rijiju today stoked a controversy as he said the country’s Hindu population was falling as the community never converted people.

Rijiju was countering a statement made by the Arunachal Congress committee accusing PM Modi of trying to convert the province into a Hindu state. Political pundits see Rijiju’s remark as an attempt by the BJP to polarise voters ahead of the second phase poll in UP.

The minister also said minorities in India were flourishing unlike some other countries.

In a Twitter post, Rijiju, who too belongs to Arunachal and is a Buddhist, said, “The Hindu population is reducing in India because Hindus never convert people. Minorities in India are flourishing unlike some countries around… Why is Congress making such irresponsible statements? People of Arunachal Pradesh are unitedly living peacefully with each other (sic).”

“Congress should not make such provocative statements. India is a secular country. All religious groups enjoy freedom & living peacefully (sic),” he tweeted. Talking to reporters later, Rijiju questioned as to how Narendra Modi-led BJP government could convert Arunachal into a Hindu state. — TNS