Summary The comments were made by the governor during a book launch in Guwahati.
NEW DELHI (Web Desk) – In a string of prejudiced and controversial statements by the Indian leaders, Assam governor PB Acharya also stepped in saying that "Hindustan is for Hindus" and that the name of a single Bangladeshi should not be in the updating of the National Register for Citizens (NRC), reported The Times of India.
The comments were made by the governor during a book launch in Guwahati when he was asked about updating the NRC list and on the controversy surrounding the Centre s notification of allowing religious minorities from Pakistan and Bangladesh fleeing persecution to seek shelter in India.
According to the paper, the governor went on to say that Assam has nothing to fear about Hindu refugees from Bangladesh settling in the state and there is nothing wrong in Hindus from other countries taking shelter in India.
"Hindustan is for Hindus. There is nothing wrong with that Hindus from different countries can stay here. They cannot be outsiders. There is nothing to be feared about that. But how to accommodate them is a big question and we should think about that," he said.
But he added, "We shouldn t allow a single Bangladeshi to be included in the NRC list."
Acharya also expressed concern over Assam and the northeast being in a "danger zone" because of threats from "certain ideology groups. Though he did not say so explicitly, he made it amply clear that he implied to Islamic terror groups, quoted TOI.
"The integrity of the country is at stake. The northeast is in a danger zone. Different ideological groups are posing a threat to our country. We should strive to save our integrity," said Acharya.
In a pinch of criticism, the Assam governor stated that the ancient Hindu medicinal practice was looked down upon by the British regime and had lost its prominence under the Raj.
"There are people living in villages in India who still go for Ayurveda. They respect it. It was only during the British regime that Ayurveda lost its prominence to western medicine," he said.
