"That Is What I Feel Hindu Rashtra Means"

A former police commissioner for Mumbai defended Archbishop Anil Couto's remarks in an interview with NDTV.

Transcript

00:00Well, I don't think that the Archbishop is interested in politics.

00:07Neither is he contesting any elections nor is he competing for power.

00:12But he is bothered about his own flock and that they are not troubled in any way.

00:19So, if the Christian minority feels that now things are becoming a little too hot

00:25for the minorities, then I am not surprised.

00:56Mr. Amit Shah said that he is polarizing voters on communal lines.

01:02I felt a little amused because I thought that he was much better at that job

01:08and a poor cleric, what would he polarize a few Christian votes?

01:13Hardly anybody under his charge.

01:15You seem to be saying that Christians should prepare to become second class citizens.

01:20You know, I personally am not a person who just criticizes them for the sake of criticizing.

01:27Because I think Mr. Modi has done a lot of good work also.

01:31And he has got a lot of good ideas and he really wants the country's progress.

01:38There is no doubt in my mind or anybody's mind about that.

01:42But the point is that if it is meant only for 80%, then of course, I think he will come a cropper.

01:50So, you think they only work for 80% of the population?

01:54Well, that is what I feel Hindu Rashtra means.

01:57Because, why should they call it Hindu Rashtra otherwise?