GUWAHATI, Nov 22 - Governor PB Acharya today said that it was the duty of India to receive the Indian-origin people being persecuted on a foreign land on religious ground.
The Governor clarified that not just the Hindus, but Indian-origin Jain, Sikh or Muslim people also do have this right. He added that India has been a large-hearted country with a history of giving shelter to others.
�Zoroastrians, also known as Parsi people, are a great example of this. The country�s some of the biggest businessmen belong to that community,� he said, while addressing the media here.
The Governor, however, refuted reports in a section of media about his alleged remarks that �Hindustan is for Hindus.�
�I had said that India is the homeland for the Hindus and when in peril, they look back to their motherland and we cannot leave them to die. It is our duty to give shelter to them. It is in this regard that I had made the comment, but it was misinterpreted,� he added.
On Muslims persecuted in Bangladesh, the Governor added that they had the option to go anywhere like India or Pakistan. �Even Tasleema Nasreen had come to settle in India,� he said.
On the additional burden of refugees on the bordering States, especially Assam, he said that it was for the Centre and the State governments to chalk out a plan on where and how to settle them.
Stressing on having an error-free NRC for security of the country and the people of Assam, he said that despite extra time being allotted, the work remains incomplete. He said that the work should be given top most priority at the moment.
Documents of nearly 3.5 crore people are to be verified. Total 2,500 centres have been opened for the purpose.
�I talked to the State coordinator of NRC, Prateek Hajela and I am assured that the work would be completed within the stipulated time. All political parties, students� organisations, merchants� chambers, NGOs, religious leaders should cooperate in the process,� he added.
