New Delhi: Commenting on the row over his Congress colleague Salman Khurshid’s latest book on Ayodhya verdict, veteran party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that comparing Hindutva with ISIS and Jihadist Islam is “factually wrong and exaggeration”.
This comes after BJP on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Congress over Salman Khurshid reportedly comparing Hindutva with the jihadist Islam of terrorist groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram in his latest book.
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Commenting on the issue, former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad tweeted: “In Mr. Salman Khursheed’s new book, we may not agree with Hindutva as a political ideology distinct from composite culture of Hinduism, but comparing Hindutva with ISIS and Jihadist Islam is factually wrong and an exaggeration”.
The BJP had targetted Congress over Salman Khurshid reportedly comparing Hindutva with the jihadist Islam of terrorist groups and alleged the opposition party is weaving a web like a spider against Hindus.
Earlier, a Delhi-based lawyer has filed a complaint with the Delhi Police seeking registration of an FIR against Salman Khurshid on the matter, news agency PTI reported.
As per lawyer Vivek Garg, Salman Khurshid, in his book ‘Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times’, wrote: “Sanatan Dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints were being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to the jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years”.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, said that the Congress leader’s book on Ayodhya hurts religious sentiments of people.
He alleged that this was happening at the behest of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and said: “If you remain silent, then it will be clear that your ideology is also against Hindus”.
The BJP spokesperson also demanded Salman Khurshid's removal from Congress.
The book by former Union minister Salman Khurshid on the Ayodhya verdict was released on Wednesday.
Speaking at the launch event, Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh had also expressed his views on Hindutva saying: “Hindutva has nothing to do with Hindu religion. Savarkar was not a religious man. He had even said why is the cow considered ‘maata’ (mother) and had no problems in consuming beef. He brought in the ‘Hindutva’ word to establish Hindu identity that caused confusion in people and that was propagated by the RSS”.
As per Lawyer Garg, Khurshid’s contentious remarks appear in a chapter called ‘The Saffron Sky’ (page - 113).
(With Agency Inputs)