Rijiju’s Remark an Attempt to Polarise, Garner Votes: Congress

Kiren Rijiju, MoS for Home Affairs, sparked a controversy when he tweeted that minorities are flourishing.

File photo of Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju. (Photo: IANS)

Congress party on Monday termed Union minister Kiren Rijiju's statement as "irresponsible" when he said that Hindu population was decreasing in India as they "never convert people". They said that it was an attempt to garner electoral gains out of polarisation on religious lines.

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.

He also said the conduct of the MoS, Home Affairs, was "unbecoming" of a minister and that the intellectual quotient of NDA ministers was on the "decline".

Earlier in the day, Kiren Rijiiju, Minister of State for Home Affairs, sparked a controversy when he tweeted that while Hindu population in the country is on the decline, minorities are flourishing.

Rijiju’s reaction came after the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Party accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government of trying to convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu state. The party had said that Arunachal’s culture and tradition is at stake under the governance of BJP.

Rijiju’s comments come in response to Congress’ comments about how the BJP is turning Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu state.

This tweet was accompanied with another where the minister asked the Congress to “not make such provocative” statements.

Sanjay Jha, National Spokesperson of Indian National Congress, tweeted in response:

Some supported Rijiju on Twitter while others spoke against him.