Minister who called Hindus 'hijra kaum' must be jailed: Urdu poet

Ghaziabad, Aug 7: Eminent Urdu poet Munawwar Rana has said the "headless" minister who called Hindus "hijra kaum" (eunuch community) must be jailed for his derogatory remarks.

Rana, who had returned his Sahitya Akademi award with Rs 1 lakh cash prize, was talking to media after attending a poetry recital session here yesterday evening.

Rana said the remark by one "insane" minister from Bihar that "Hinduon jaisa koi hijra kaum dusra nahin hai" is absolutely intolerable as they sowed the seed of hatred in the country.

Talking about intolerance, he said when governments start playing politics with the society, the situation gets worse.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Giriraj Singh is purportedly seen making the remark while criticising raising of anti-India slogans in Kashmir.

PTI