The chorus of condemnation of Assam Governor P B Acharya's controversial remarks grew louder today with the BSP joining Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in demanding his immediate dismissal.
Acharya stoked a controversy on Saturday with his reported "Hindustan is for Hindus" remark and his attempt to clarify yesterday with a comment that Indian Muslims are "free to go Pakistan" further escalated the row.
Reiterating his demand for removal of Acharya, Gogoi said the incumbent "does not know how to maintain his dignity" as a Constitutional Head.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju sought to defend Acharya over his remarks, claiming he did not make any comments with religious overtones.
BSP chief Mayawati demanded that action be taken against Acharya as per the law. "He should be immediately dismissed and action initiated against him as per the rules."
"It is most unbecoming for a person sitting on such a high post to issue a statement which is against the spirit of the Constitution ...It is unfortunate that Central Government has given such high post to people associated with the RSS having such distorted mentality," she said in a statement released in Lucknow.
Exhorting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action in this case, she said it was also necessary to prove that there is no difference in what he preaches and follows.
"By taking action against the Assam Governor, prime minister should prove that what he is claiming during his foreign trips is not aimed just at gaining cheap publicity and that in this over one year period (of being prime minister) he is more serious ...It is not the RSS dictate but national interest which is of importance for him," she said.
Terming usage of inciting, undignified and hatred spreading statements as a new dangerous ailment faced by the country alongwith intolerance, she said ever since NDA government came to power at the Centre people associated with BJP and company have become intolerant which has damaged social and communal atmosphere of the country.
Mayawati said there is a need to seriously ponder as to how country's image and prestige which is continuously facing being harmed at the global level can be rectified.
"He (Acharya) does not know how to maintain his dignity. Governor's office is a very prestigious office. I have worked with Governors appointed during earlier NDA regime also, but never saw such a person. They all worked with dignity," Gogoi told reporters in Guwahati.
"Appointment of such persons as Governor and such statements will disintegrate the country and affect the unity. He is playing divisive politics," he added.
"He (Acharya) is just an acting Governor. No permanent Governor has been appointed so far for a long time. He is just behaving like an RSS Pracharak. He should not be appointed in an important state like Assam.
"He should be removed immediately...You (Centre) appoint anyone who can hold the dignity of the post," Gogoi said. Assembly polls in Assam are due next year.
"The Governor did not make a religious comment. But it was for all religions not any particular one. But I have not heard about the other comment about Muslims being sent to Bangladesh," Rijiju told reporters in Delhi.
