NEW DELHI, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- A major controversy has erupted in India over junior Home Minister Kiren Rijiju's statement on the decrease of Hindu population in this country.
In a series of tweets on Monday, the minister claimed that the Hindu population is decreasing in India as they "never convert people," while minorities are flourishing.
India's main opposition Congress party has slammed Rijiju, saying his statement was "extremely irresponsible" and aimed at polarizing voters in some states where assembly polls are underway.
"The Election Commission must take very serious cognizance of this extremely irresponsible statement/tweets put out by the junior Home MInister," Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said.
Stating that Hindus are still the majority in India, the Congress spokesperson said: "The census also says growth rates of other religions has fallen more than the majority's."
He also said that the Muslims witnessed a sharp fall in the growth rate to 24.60 percent in 2001-11 period from the previous figures of 29.52 percent (1991-2001).
Tewari said the BJP was making such statements out of "desperation" as it was on the verge of getting defeated in the five states where assembly polls are being held.
