Hindutva is Way of Life, Christians and Muslims Descendants of Hindus: Assam CM Sarma

GUWAHATI:

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday that Hindutva is a way of life and that followers of other religions are descended from Hindus.

"Hindutva is a way of life. How can I or anybody stop it? It has been flowing through the ages. Almost all of us are descendants of Hindus. A Christian or a Muslim has also descended from Hindus at some point in time," the Assam CM stated.

Hindutva began 5,000 years ago and will not be halted, according to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. This contentious comment was made during a news conference marking Sarma's second month as Assam CM following a landslide victory that enabled the saffron party to retain power for a second term. 

Moving away from Hindutva will be like "moving away from one's roots and motherland," Himanta Biswa Sarma added. 

When asked about the problem of "Love Jihad," the chief minister expressed misgivings about the phrase but stated that no one will be permitted to defraud a woman. 

"The government will not tolerate any woman being cheated by anyone — whether Hindu or Muslim. Appropriate action will be taken against such offenders to ensure the safety and security of our sisters," stated the Assam CM when questioned about his stance on 'Love Jihad,' which the opposition parties has not yet acknowledged and terms it as 'communal politics' played by the Sangh Pariwar. 

When asked about the opposition's criticism of his assertion that MLAs are intended to create laws and ministers are responsible for constituency development, Sarma stated that this is what the Indian Constitution states and that "legislators are above ministers" in the assembly. 

Sarma responded to Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi's statement that he will question the government in the assembly about alleged 'anti-people policies,' saying, "As the ruling party, the BJP will get three hours, as the main opposition party, the Congress will get one hour, while an Independent MLA will get three minutes and can ask within that time." 

"The BJP will not allow democracy to be hijacked but welcomes participatory democracy," added the Assam CM. 

Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that the state government will bring a law soon to check the hazard of men marrying women by concealing religious identity and other information and he said that it will be "equal for Hindus and Muslims." The CM further said that even a Hindu man should not marry a Hindu woman by disguising information or lying about him. CM Sarma said that he does not want to use this term as "Love Jihad."

As "Love Jihad" is a term used by conservative groups to target connections between Muslim men and Hindu women, which, they say, is a trap to persuasively convert women, the BJP government, in its statement for the Assembly polls held this year, vowed to bring a policy/bill against 'Love Jihad.'

Under the section "Protection of Civilisation in Assam," the statement stated that the government will formulate appropriate laws and policies to tackle and curbing the menace of 'Love Jihad' and 'Land Jihad' in Assam. 

Also Read - Hindu Boy Lying to Hindu Girl is also called 'Love Jihad': Assam CM

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