Union Minister Kiren Rijiju claims Hindu population reducing in India, minorities flourishing

New Delhi: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday said Hindu population was reducing in India as they "never convert people", while minorities are flourishing unlike some other countries, in remarks that can stoke a controversy.

He tweeted:

Hindu population is reducing in India because Hindus never convert people. Minorities in India are flourishing unlike some countries around. pic.twitter.com/W4rZnk1saM

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) February 13, 2017

The Minister of State for Home's comment came after the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee accused the Narendra Modi -led BJP government of trying to convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu state.

Congress should not make such provocative statements. India is a secular country. All religious groups enjoy freedom & living peacefully. https://t.co/bmpOarAMcJ — Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) February 13, 2017

Why is Congress making such irresponsible statements? People of Arunachal Pradesh are unitedly living peacefully with each other. pic.twitter.com/uxcdsW6Vcm

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) February 13, 2017

Rijiju said in a series of tweets, responding to the APCC's charge. Rijiju hails from Arunachal Pradesh and is a practising Buddhist.  Reacting to his statement, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi said he should remember that he is a "minister of India for all Indians not for Hindus only". "Remember your oath as minister," the Hyderabad MP said. Owaisi tweeted:

@vijaita @KirenRijiju wht have the minorities India got to do with minorities of "other"countries.It is Constitution which guarantees rights — Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) February 13, 2017

According to the 2011 Census, Hindus make up India's 79.80 per cent of population, Muslims 14.23 per cent, Christians 2.30 per cent, Sikhs 1.72 per cent, Buddhists 0.70 per cent and Jains 0.37 per cent.

The country's Hindu population as per the 2001 Census was 80.5 per cent, while that of Muslims was 13.4 per cent, Christians 2.3 per cent, Sikhs 1.9 per cent, Buddhists 0.80 per cent and Jains 0.4 per cent.

The minister embedded a news report where the Congress had alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government was trying to "convert Arunachal Pradesh into a Hindu-majority state".