Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanata Biswa Sarma told NDTV that Hindus never cause riots or contribute to them. This was the latest in a series of comments Sarma has issued in recent days, particularly after the Shraddha Walkar murder in Delhi.
In an interview with NDTV, the Assam CM said that Hindus are peace-loving people and they do not indulge in rioting. As a community, Hindus do not believe in Jihad, Sarma said.
On August 15, the Gujarat government released en masse the 11 convicts who were charged with murder and gang rape in the Bilkis Bano case, which happened during the 2002 riots. The riots killed more than 1,000 people in three days of violence, and more than 800 died were Muslims. The Assam CM's comments come when Bilkis Bano challenges the Gujarat administration to release the 11, who were welcomed back with garlands and photographs.
Sarma further said that Shraddha Walkar's murder involved "love jihad", reiterating his earlier claims. In Aaftab Poonawala's polygraph test, he had said that his actions would take him to "Jannat", he said, justifying his "love jihad" claims.
He also claimed that ignoring "love jihad" is viewed by him as a politics of appeasement of some. But it is a concern of security of women, he said, citing Shraddha's case.
He said that his remarks might be taken as communal by "left-leaning" people, but he said it out of national sentiment.
He elaborated on Union Home Minister Amit Shah's teaching the 2002 rioters a lesson remark.
After the 2002 incidents, the state government took a series of actions to ensure peace, and those were successful, he said. Now no curfews happen there.
"There has been peace since 2002 in Gujarat because of what the Gujarat government has done. Action has been taken against rioters. I have to ensure that there is peace in Assam too," NDTV quoted him.