Leader of Opposition in the Assam Assembly and senior Congress leader Debabrata Saikia has criticised Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat over his recent remarks on “love jihad”. Saikia said the comment was divisive and went against the values of the Indian Constitution.
Mohan Bhagwat had made the remark while speaking at a programme called Stri Shakti Samvad in Bhopal. During the event, he said that efforts to stop “love jihad” should begin inside homes and families. His comment quickly drew sharp political reactions across the country.
Reacting to the statement, Debabrata Saikia accused the RSS and the BJP of trying to spread fear and division. He said that anything spoken in public should respect the Constitution and equal rights of all citizens. Saikia also said that the RSS and BJP work together and often make remarks that target minorities. 
He stated that India is governed by the Constitution, and therefore any issue related to law and order should be handled according to legal provisions, not through emotional or communal appeals. Saikia added that such remarks may disturb social harmony and should not be encouraged.
Other Congress leaders also expressed similar views. Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that the term “love jihad” was being used only to create religious tension. He questioned why the government had not taken any legal action against its own Muslim leaders if such a concept actually existed.
Congress MP Tariq Anwar also said that the Constitution gives every adult the right to choose their partner. He added that giving a communal colour to personal relationships was unnecessary and misleading.
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi also responded to Bhagwat’s statement. He said that if “love jihad” was a real issue, the government should provide official data in Parliament. Owaisi added that personal choices made by consenting adults should not be politicised.
