New Delhi: Adding to the controversies already swirling around the country over the Citizenship Amendment Act, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has now said that while Muslims can live in any of 150 countries, Hindus only have India.

Speaking at a rally supporting the CAA outside the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, the chief minister attacked the Congress for opposing the new law that grants Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh who have migrated till December 31, 2014.

He accused the Congress of not honoring the wishes of Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh on the issue.

There was 22 percent of Hindus in Pakistan at the time of Partition. Due to persecution, rapes, and constant torture, their population has been reduced to just 3 percent.

That is why Hindus want to come back to India. We are doing what Congress was supposed to do to help these distressed Hindus.

And when we are doing it now, you oppose it,’ the Gujarat chief minister said. There was 22 percent of Hindus in Pakistan at the time of Partition.

Due to persecution, rapes, and constant torture, their population has been reduced to just 3 percent. That is why Hindus want to come back to India.

We are doing what Congress was supposed to do to help these distressed Hindus. And when we are doing it now, you oppose it,’ the Gujarat chief minister said.

He said the Hindu population in Bangladesh has shrunk to just 2 percent. Out of 2 lacks of Hindu and Sikh residents in Afghanistan some decades back, their number is just 500 today.

Muslims can go to any of the 150 countries, but there is only one country for Hindus, and that is India. So what is the problem if they want to return” asked Rupani.

He said the Hindu population in Bangladesh has shrunk to just 2 percent of two lacking Hindu and Sikh residents in Afghanistan some decades back; their number is just 500 today.

Muslims can go to any of the 150 countries, but there is only one country for Hindus, and that is India. So what is the problem if they want to return?’ asked Rupani.

In an attempt to counter-protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act in various parts of the country, Gujarat BJP leaders and government functionaries on Tuesday took part in pro-CAA rallies across all 33 districts.

Gandhiji also believed that India should grant citizenship to Hindus and Sikhs of Pakistan. Even Manmohan Singh supported such a proposal when he was the PM.

The Congress must explain to the nation why the party is opposing the CAA now,’ said Rupani. Gandhiji also believed that India should grant citizenship to Hindus and Sikhs of Pakistan.

Even Manmohan Singh supported such a proposal when he was the PM. The Congress must explain to the nation why the party is opposing the CAA now,’ said Rupani.

Rupani also targeted Dalit leaders and outfits opposing the new citizenship law without taking names. There are 10,000 refugees from these countries living in Gujarat.

Most living in Kutch are Dalits, like Maheshwari and Meghwal communities. Dalit leaders need to explain why they do not favor granting citizenship to these Dalit refugees.

The chief minister said that these Dalit leaders had been exposed by opposing the CAA. Rupani also targeted Dalit leaders and outfits opposing the new citizenship law without taking names.

The BJP leader further said it was the misfortune of India to have parties and leaders like the Congress, the Communists, and Mamata Banerjee who incite Muslims and others to fulfill their political agenda and destabilize the government.

It appears that these parties fear that they may lose power if Hindus become citizens and illegal immigrants are thrown out under the National Register of Citizens,’ he said.

He said the BJP government in Gujarat has already started granting citizenship to such persecuted refugees.

Vijay Rupani also blamed the Congress for the violence in the Muslim-dominated Shah-E-Alam locality in Ahmedabad during a protest against the new citizenship law.

The state government said, ‘At least 59 people have been arrested for the violence, which left over two dozen policemen injured.

Decisive action will be taken against those behind the violence based on CCTV footage and other evidence, Rupani told reporters. Congress is spreading violence. There is no doubt that the Congress is behind this,’ he said.

At least 59 people have been arrested for the violence, which left over two dozen police officers injured, the state government said.