Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday referred to Hindus as “our people” while countering allegations that the state police’s recent crackdown on child marriages was targeted at Muslims.
“Since you people [Opposition MLAs] will mind, we picked up more of our people,” Sarma said in the state Assembly while replying to the vote of thanks on the governor’s speech.
Starting from February 3, the Assam Police has arrested over 3,000 people after it launched a crackdown on child marriages in the state. There have been allegations that the Muslim community has been predominantly targeted.
Protests were witnessed in several parts of the state, with women demanding that police release their husbands. Many of these marriages were even solemnised years ago, resulting in families losing their earning members, husbands and fathers.
