Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyars new definition of Hindutva creates stir, BJP reacts
Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar during a debate said that Hindutva is Hinduism in paranoia. He talked about how Hindutva has led to several attacks on minorities in India, highlighting the recent attack on Christmas celebrations in different parts of India and also the lynching of a people by Hindutva vigilantes, if they are suspected of eating, hoarding or transporting beef. The observations drew sharp reactions from the BJP.
New Delhi: Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar sparked controversy with his remarks on Hindutva. He reportedly said that Hindutva is Hinduism in paranoia, instantly sparking backlash from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP accused him of insulting Sanatan Dharma.
Controversy after Kolkata debate
According to reports Aiyar was speaking at a debate in Kolkata. The title of the debate was, 'Hinduism Needs Protection From Hindutva' and it was organised at the Calcutta Club on Sunday. The debate, hosted by the Calcutta Debating Circle, also saw participation from Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, former MP Swapan Dasgupta, lawyer J Sai Deepak, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, historian Ruchika Sharma and veteran journalist Ashutosh.
Speaking at the event, Aiyar not only criticised the concept of Hindutva, but also highlighted recent attacks on religious minorities in India. Aiyar said, " Hindutva is Hinduism in paranoia. It asks 80 per cent Hindus to quiver in front of 14 per cent Muslims. Hindutva is a BJP leader slapping a blind, hungry tribal girl because she attends a Christmas lunch in a Church. Hindutva raids shopping malls to tear down Christmas decorations."
He also talked about Veer Savarkar and his belief of Buddhism posing an existential threat to all Hindus. Talking about Savarkar's view on Buddhism, Aiyar claimed that the freedom fighter thought that Buddhism was the ultimate negation of Hindutva, bearing the opiate of universalism and nonviolence. He said it was disastrous to national virility and even the existence of the Hindu race.
Aiyar also described Hindutva as a political tract, which originated in 1923. He however clarified that Hinduism was a great religion and had survived for thousands of years, facing several trials and tribulation and yet survived, flourished. According to the Congress leaders, the religion never needed the protection of Hindutva. He said that Gandhi's and Vivekanand's Hinduism can in no way be protected by Savarkar's Hindutva.
BJP criticises Aiyar
Aiyar faced strong opposition from the BJP following his remarks. BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi who was also participating in the debate said, "Which culture gives you the authority to debate even on religious issues? I would like to ask why the term Hinduism? Why is 'ism' associated with all the religions that originated in India? You have never heard of Islamism and Christianism... The 'ism' world is being associated just to demean, and what Hindutva is, 'Hindu tattva'."
He further said that Hinduism is only cherished and celebrated when it is called Hindutva.
BJP spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla also criticised Aiyar for his remarks. He reminded people that Aiyar belongs to the same Congress party which said that Hindutva is ISIS and Boko Haram. He said that after insulting the Army, Aiyar was now trying to insult Sanatan Dharma through such remarks. He also took the name of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and said that the Congress leader has also abused Hindutva.
Poonawala said that Aiyar's statement is like saying that "Maa and Maatritva (motherhood) are different". He accused the Congress party of abusing Hindutva multiple times, despite even the Supreme Court having defined it as a way of life.