New Delhi: Launching a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that Hinduism and Hindutva are not the same. Addressing the party's digital campaign 'Jag Jagran Abhiyan' over video conferencing, he claimed that RSS and BJP's 'hateful ideology' has eclipsed the 'affectionate and nationalistic' ideology of the Congress.
RSS-BJP ideology is more popular than Congress's nationalist ideology: Rahul
During the event, Rahul Gandhi said, "Today, whether we believe it or not, the hate ideology of the RSS and the BJP has overshadowed the loving, affectionate and nationalist ideology of the Congress party. Because we haven't propagated it aggressively among our people."
Putting across his point on the difference between Hinduism and Hindutva, he said, "They're obviously different things. Is Hinduism about beating a Sikh or a Muslim? Hindutva of course is."
Uproar over 'Hindutva'
Rahul Gandhi's statement comes at a time when BJP has been attacking Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Rashid Alvi for commenting on Hinduism and Hindutva. Salman Khurshid in his book on Ayodhya verdict titled, 'Sunrise over Ayodhya' has compared Hindutva to terror outfits ISIS and Boko Haram.
Rashid Alvi today said, "Those who chant Jai Shri Ram have been compared to the Kalanemi rakshasa of the Ramayana. Those who chant the slogans of Ramrajya and Jai Shri Ram are not the sages, but the Kalanemi rakshasas of the Ramayana period."
BJP Slams Rahul's Statement
BJP IT Chief amit Malviya slammed the statement of Rahul Gandhi saying he was echoing the abhorent claims of Salman Khurshid and Rashid Alvi.