Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 20: Former Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari has cited a remark attributed to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru about the perceived threat of “Hindu right-wing communalism”, triggering criticism from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the All India Imam Organisation.
Ansari made the remarks while delivering the third A.G. Noorani Memorial Lecture in New Delhi on September 18. The lecture, titled *Remembering a Polymath: The Life and Times of Abdul Ghafoor Noorani*, was organised to commemorate the late jurist, constitutional expert and author A.G. Noorani.
Referring to Noorani’s 2019 book *The RSS: A Menace to India*, Ansari cited a passage in which Noorani referred to an observation attributed to Nehru at a meeting of Ministry of External Affairs officials. The observation was recorded by former Foreign Secretary Jagat Singh Gundevia.
Quoting the passage, Ansari said: “The danger to India, mark you, it is not communism; it is Hindu right-wing communalism.”
Ansari also spoke about what he described as emerging trends challenging the principle of civic nationalism and replacing it with “cultural nationalism”. He said such an approach could present an electoral majority as a religious majority, distinguish citizens on the basis of faith and contribute to intolerance and insecurity.
The remarks drew criticism from the VHP.
VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal questioned Ansari’s comments and referred to his previous public positions and controversies. Speaking to IANS, Bansal said Ansari had held senior diplomatic positions and served twice as Vice President, but alleged that he was now raising issues relating to fear among Muslims.
Bansal also made allegations concerning Ansari’s interactions with organisations including the Popular Front of India (PFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), as well as controversies during his diplomatic career. These claims were part of Bansal’s response and were not established in the remarks themselves.
The VHP spokesperson further criticised Ansari for what he described as comments directed at the Hindu majority and questioned his perspective on the country.
The All India Imam Organisation also criticised the former Vice President’s remarks.
Its chief Imam, Umar Ahmed Ilyasi, alleged that Ansari was attempting to enter politics by invoking issues concerning Muslims. Ilyasi said the Muslim community understood such statements and questioned the motives behind them.
Ilyasi also described the remarks as potentially harmful to the country’s social atmosphere and said Ansari should reconsider the language used in his public statements.
The controversy follows Ansari’s address at the memorial lecture, where he discussed Noorani’s writings on nationalism, constitutional values and the political concerns addressed in *The RSS: A Menace to India*.