‘Hindutva is Hinduism in paranoia...’: Mani Shankar Aiyar triggers row; BJP reacts

Kolkata: Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar criticised the concept of Hindutva during a debate titled "Hinduism Needs Protection From Hindutva", which was hosted by the Calcutta Debating Circle on Sunday.

During the debate, the Congress leader criticised the ideology of Hindutva, describing it as Hinduism in a state of paranoia, where 80 per cent Hindus are made to quiver before 14 per cent Muslims.

"Hindutva is Hinduism in paranoia. It asks 80% Hindus to quiver in front of 14% 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... Savarkar described Buddhism as an existential threat to all Hindus. He described it as 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..." said Aiyar.

The Congress leader also drew a clear distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva. He stressed that Hinduism is a great spiritual religion, while Hindutva is a political tract. He also asserted that Hinduism faced trials and tribulations yet managed to survive and flourish without any need for Hindutva's protection.

"Hinduism is a great spiritual religion. Hindutva is a political tract. Hindutva came only in 1923; for thousands of years before Hindutva, Hinduism faced trial and tribulation and yet survived, flourished, with no need of Hindutva protection... There is no way Gandhi's and Swami Vivekananda's Hinduism can be protected or promoted by Savarkar's Hindutva," he said.

"While Savarkar wrote, Hindus understand themselves as Hindus through acts of violence. The Mahatma wrote that the Hindu has an old age civilisation. He is essentially non-violent. You've seen that Hindutva vigilantes beat up and even kill anyone suspected of hoarding, eating or transporting beef. While Gandhiji wrote, it is a denial of Hinduism and of Ahimsa to kill a human being to protect a cow...," Mani Shankar Aiyar said.

The remark drew a sharp response from the BJP. Party leader Sudhanshu Trivedi questioned Aiyar’s authority to debate religious issues.

"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'. The basic immunity of Hinduism is Hindu tattva... Another thing I would like to say, when you cherish Hinduism, it is called Hindutva," he said.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla added, "Mani Shankar Aiyar is at it again. After doing Sena ka apmaan, now it is Sanatan ka apmaan. Mani Shankar Aiyar says Hinduism and Hindutva are different, that Hindutva is violent, and that Hindutva advocates beating up people. This is the same line of Congress that Hindutva is ISIS and Boko Haram."

He further remarked, "Rahul Gandhi has also abused Hindutva. This is like saying that Maa and Maatritva (motherhood) are different. Hindutva has been defined by the Supreme Court as a way of life. Yet the Congress party keeps insulting Hindutva."