Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar’s recent remarks labeling Hindutva as “Hinduism in paranoia” have sparked a heated debate. Aiyar, speaking at a discussion on ‘Hinduism Needs Protection From Hindutva’, criticized Hindutva for allegedly promoting fear among Hindus towards Muslims and engaging in anti-minority actions.
Aiyar also referenced Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, attributing to him the view that Buddhism posed a threat to Hindus. He emphasized the distinction between Hinduism as a spiritual tradition and Hindutva as a political ideology, asserting that the former has withstood challenges over millennia without the need for Hindutva’s protection.
The BJP swiftly condemned Aiyar’s comments, accusing the Congress of disrespecting Hindu beliefs. BJP leaders emphasized the significance of both Hinduism and Hindutva for the Hindu community, rejecting Aiyar’s characterization of Hindutva as solely political and underscoring its cultural and national importance.
Mani Shankar Aiyar, BJP, Hinduism, Hindutva, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Congress, Buddhism, Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, Mithilesh Kumar Katheria, Narendra Kashyap, Pradeep Bhandari, Uttar Pradesh
