'Against Hindu Culture': Himanta Hits Out At Cong Leader Over 'Love Jihad' Remark In Mahabharata

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly criticised Bhupen Borah, the state unit chief of the Congress party, for his controversial remark on "love jihad."

Referring to Borah's statement that "love jihad happened in Mahabharata too," Himanta condemned the analogy, stating that it goes against the principles of Sanatan Dharma and is disrespectful to drag Lord Krishna and Rukmini into such discussions. He urged the Congress party to refrain from involving religious figures like Hazrat Muhammad or Jesus Christ in controversies, similarly asking them not to associate Lord Krishna with criminal activities.

Himanta asserted that if someone were to file a case against Borah's remarks, they would have to face the consequences of their statement. He clarified that he wouldn't be able to protect Borah if thousands of people from the Sanatan religion filed complaints against him.

Responding to Borah's Mahabharata reference, the Chief Minister highlighted that Lord Krishna never forced Rukmini to change her religion, making it clear that when a girl is coerced to change her religion after marrying under false pretenses, it constitutes what is referred to as "love jihad."

Himanta emphasized the importance of preserving religious freedom and stated that even in inter-faith marriages, individuals should not be compelled to change their religion. He advocated following the guidelines set forth in the Special Marriage Act to ensure that such unions respect the rights and choices of the individuals involved. Going beyond that, he cautioned against crossing the "Lakshman Rekha" (a metaphorical boundary), as it can lead to issues associated with "love jihad."

In a critical remark against the Congress party, Himanta, who belongs to the BJP, expressed that the party might find itself with limited support, figuratively stating that someday they may have nowhere to hide except in mosques and madrassas, where the AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) may also pursue them.

The term "love jihad" has been popularized by Hindutva organizations to describe situations where a Muslim man is allegedly involved in a relationship with a non-Muslim woman with the intention of converting her to Islam.