Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Amidst the nationwide outrage against Salman Khurshid’s book, which compares “Hindutva” with radical Islamist terror groups, Goa politicos have condemned the Congress’ “hatred” towards Hindus.
In his book “Sunrise over Ayodhya”, the author has compared a “robust version” of Hindutva to the jihadist Islam of terror groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram.
With elections due in seven states next year, including the politically key Uttar Pradesh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat, the BJP has jumped on the chance to attack the Congress accusing it of playing “communal politics” to get Muslim votes.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanwade have targeted P. Chidambaram, AICC in-charge for the Goa election campaign.
“Congress can stoop to any level to appease a particular section. Apart from votes, it comes out of their hatred towards the Hindus. SalmanKhurshid’ss book is an insult to the Hindu community,” wrote CM Sawant.
He further said, P Chidambaram, who is in charge of INC’ss Goa campaign, not only released the book but in the past had played a crucial role in coining the word “Saffron Terror.
“People of Goa will not take these insults lying down,” he said.
The State BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanawade said that what Salman Khurshid has written in his book about Hindutva reflects a deep-rooted hatred for any ideology that puts the Nation First.
“Congress’ hatred for the Hindus is well known and Khurshid’s rant is in sync with the party’s views he represents,” Tanawade wrote.
He added, “While I strongly condemn the comparison of Hindutva with a barbaric radical Islamic organisation, what is deafening is the silence of Congress’ leaders including the Gandhis and their Goa in-charge P Chidambaram. Congress owes this Nation an apology,” he said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday joined the ‘Hindutva’ controversy that erupted since the book launch of senior party leader Salman Khurshid. Since the launch of the controversial book, many Congress leaders have joined the debate over Hindutva. Reportedly, the author in his book has compared a “robust version” of Hindutva to the jihadist Islam of terror groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram.
“These are the types of things we need to explore and understand and develop a group of people…100, 200, 300, 500 people who deeply understand these differences, who can apply these differences to issues, behaviour, to action. Is Hinduism about beating a Sikh, or a Muslim. Hindutva, of course, is. In which book is it written? I have not seen it. I have read the Upanishads. I have not read it. We say there is a difference between Hindutva and Hindu religion. It is a simple logic – if you are a Hindu then why do you need Hindutva? why do you need this new name?” he asked. Rahul Gandhi said while addressing the National Orientation Camp for Organisation Training, Sevagram Ashram, Wardha virtually.
Senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also had said that their political ideology on Hindutva may be different from that of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
A statement released by the senior leader said, “We may not agree with Hindutva as a political ideology distinct from the composite culture of Hinduism, but comparing Hindutva with ISIS and jihadist Islam is factually wrong and exaggeration.”
