A warof words broke out between Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and AIMIM leaderAsaduddin Owaisi over the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Owaision Wednesday tweeted that Citizenship cannot be given or withdrawn on the basisof faith. To which Himanta Biswa Sarma hit back at Owaisi and asked Owaisi whowill protect the Hindus in the country if India does not protect them.

In reply, Owaisi tweeted that India can never be a "Hindu Rashtra". He also added that Constitution of India treats all faiths, races and castes equally. Himanta replied that India has been the homeland for more than 5,000 years for the Hindus.