Udupi, Nov 25: PB Acharya, the Governor of Assam and Nagaland, who had allegedly stated that India belongs only to the Hindus, faced protest by the members of Youth Congress during his visit to Udupi.
Condemning the governors “unconstitutional remark”, the activists of Udupi Block Youth Congress staged a dharna in front of the Clock and demanded his resignation for “trying to divide people on religious lines in a secular country.”
They also held placards saying ‘Go Back, Acharya’ and ‘Step down as Assam Governor P.B. Acharya’.
Addressing the protesters, Amrit Shenoy, Congress leader, said that Mr. Acharya was holding a constitutional post.
As a Governor, he had to be neutral. Yet Mr. Acharya had given statements that India was only for Hindus. Such a statement was unfortunate and would only polarise the society on religious lines.
“He should not give statements in favour of a religion. Such statements will only create a negative image of the country,” Mr. Shenoy said.
The silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was responsible for the BJP MPs and Ministers, and Governors with BJP background making such reckless statements, which led to controversies.
Mr. Modi should reign in such persons as their statements would only create divisions in the society, he said.
On the other hand replying to queries from presspersons at Manipal University, Mr. Acharya denied that he had stated that the country belonged only to the Hindus.
Mr. Acharya had said that Bangladeshi Hindus coming to Assam were not infiltrators as they were fleeing persecution. They were refugees. The Hindus there had nowhere to go. Hence, they had to come to India.
The Union government had issued a notification that these Hindu refugees should be provided citizenship. “If members of other communities such as Christians, Jains and Buddhists came to India fleeing persecution, they too could be considered for citizenship,” Mr. Acharya said.
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