Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday speaking in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act and granting of status to Hindus from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan told the Assembly that a person from the community "cannot be a Jinnah as he never attacks anyone" and are secular.
He also supported granting of citizenship to Hindu Bengalis which is being vehemently protested by various outfits.
Speaking in support of granting citizenship to Hindus, Mr Sarma, who is also the chief of NEDA, BJP'S version of the NDA in the north east, said, "A Hindu cannot be a Jinnah. Not a single Hindu king has destroyed a mosque or a temple. A Hindu is always secular and does not attack anyone. Hindus are secular".
Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi had on January 6 called Prime Minister Narendra Modi India's "Hindu Jinnah" and accused him of following the "two-nation theory" of the Pakistan founder to divide the nation on the basis of religion.
Mr Sarma, who was speaking during the debate on the governor's address in the one-day special session of Assam Assembly, said the amended Citizenship Act will not violate the Assam Accord.
The four-page Assam Accord did not mention anything about Hindu immigrants persecuted in Bangladesh.
"In Assam Accord many things were left unresolved... We have not violated the Assam Accord, but are addressing unresolved issues," the senior BJP leader said and sought a House panel to study the historic document in detail.
Mr Sarma said the Assam government will take the responsibility if more than five lakh people were benefited by the CAA.
"I'll leave politics if one person more than five lakh get citizenship under CAA," he said.
He expressed concern over alleged rising Muslim population in Assam and said, "Ajmal Badruddin (AIDUF chief) or his son or his grandson will be the state chief minister after 30 years. No one can stop it".
"Withdrawn Now": Himanta Sarma On Assam Hospital's 'Regressive' Advisory Assam To Create New Posts Of Graduate Teacher In Schools: Himanta Sarma "Hope Bangladesh Doesn't Become Safehouse Of Northeast Insurgents Again": Himanta Sarma Tear Gas Fired After Kolkata Protest Against Doctor's Rape-Murder Turns Violent 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing PM Modi's Speech At Independence Day 2024 Is Longest Ever By An Indian PM Olympic Team, Border Roads Staff, 'Lakhpati Didis' Attend Independence Day Mob Vandalised Kolkata Doctor Rape Murder Case Crime Scene? Cops Respond Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.