Arrested some Hindus too to balance Muslims arrests in child marriage: Assam Chief Minister
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Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the house that he ordered the arrest of Hindus as well in child marriage cases to stop the Opposition alleging only Muslims were arrested in the case.
Biswa Sarma said that he had ‘some of our people’ picked up otherwise the Opposition lawmakers ‘will feel bad’, nevertheless child marriage is ‘more prevalent in Muslim-majority areas’.
He said the ratio of arrests between Muslim and Hindus since the crackdown on child marriage started on February 3 is 55:45, according to the Indian Express.
Referring to The NFHS 5 (National Family Health Survey) data, he said that problem is reported highest from Muslim majority districts of Dhubri and South Salmara, not Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.
‘But because you communalise every single thing, I told the Dibrugarh SP to pick up a few from there as well. NFHS 4 data collated during Congress times also shows that the highest number of underage marriages and childbirths is done in Lower Assam districts (where there is a greater Muslim population),” he reportedly said.
Detailing the plus points of his administration, Sarma said Muslim in Assam have never lived as peacefully as they do now, adding there have been no communal clashes and Muslims are getting schools and colleges.
‘Today people are accusing us that 60% of houses under PM Awas Yojna have gone to Muslims. The amount of roads that are being built in Muslim villages today have never been built before…’ he said.
Biswa Sarma said the Opposition is shedding ‘crocodile tears’ for minorities as the eviction continuing in the forest lands due to anti-encroachment drive are happening because of the laws passed by a previous Congress government at the Centre.