Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 12: Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has stirred a political storm once again after making strong remarks on Hindutva, triggering sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused him of disrespecting Sanatan Dharma.

Speaking at a discussion titled “Hinduism Needs Protection From Hindutva” on Sunday, Aiyar characterised Hindutva as a distorted and fear-driven interpretation of Hindu identity. He described it as an ideology that, in his view, instils insecurity among the Hindu majority and manifests through acts of intimidation and moral policing. He cited incidents such as attacks over religious celebrations and alleged intolerance towards minority practices as examples of what he called Hindutva’s aggressive expression.

Aiyar also invoked the writings of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, noting that Savarkar viewed Buddhism as a serious ideological challenge to Hindu society. According to Aiyar, Savarkar believed Buddhism weakened what he described as Hindu assertiveness by promoting universalism and non-violence, which he saw as detrimental to the strength and continuity of the Hindu community.

Emphasising a clear distinction between faith and ideology, Aiyar argued that Hinduism and Hindutva cannot be equated. He described Hinduism as an ancient spiritual and philosophical tradition that has endured centuries of challenges, while portraying Hindutva as a modern political construct that emerged in the early 20th century. He asserted that Hinduism neither required nor benefited from political protection, adding that the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda were fundamentally incompatible with Savarkar’s vision of Hindutva.

Continuing his critique, Aiyar contrasted Gandhi’s emphasis on non-violence with what he termed the violent tendencies of Hindutva activism. He referred to incidents of mob violence linked to cow protection, arguing that Gandhi viewed the killing of humans in the name of protecting cows as a betrayal of Hindu values and the principle of ahimsa.

The comments provoked swift condemnation from BJP leaders, who accused Aiyar and the Congress of being hostile towards Hindu beliefs. BJP MP Mithilesh Kumar Katheria dismissed Aiyar’s statements as incorrect, asserting that Hinduism and Hindutva are inseparable and central to India’s cultural and national identity. He alleged that the Congress lacks genuine respect for Hindu traditions and values.

Uttar Pradesh minister Narendra Kashyap also criticised Aiyar, warning that questioning the meaning of Sanatan Dharma was politically and culturally dangerous. He claimed that Hinduism and Hindutva are synonymous and said such remarks reflected the Congress party’s declining standards.

Adding to the criticism, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress of attempting to create divisions within the Hindu community for electoral gain. In a post on social media platform X, he alleged that the party’s strategy was to consolidate minority votes by fragmenting Hindu unity.

The Congress party has not yet issued an official response to Aiyar’s remarks.