The Hindu : Equating Hinduism with Hindutva is sinister: Cong.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 06, 2003

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Equating Hinduism with Hindutva is sinister: Cong.

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 5. Conveying its stand on national security, terrorism and Hindutva in unambiguous terms, the Congress today described as "sinister" attempts by the Bharatiya Janata Party to "equate Hinduism with Hindutva.''

At the end of the Congress Working Committee meeting, the party sought to meet head-on the BJP's ideological challenge and its attempt to set the political agenda. The Congress also stated its readiness to consider the possibility of electoral alliances "with like-minded secular parties," provided there was a "reasonable appreciation of ground realities.''

The nine-hour meeting discussed threadbare the recent electoral debacle in Gujarat, with the AICC general secretary in-charge of the State doing a lot of explaining.

However, the significant feature of the exercise was the Congress' statement of its position on issues of "national security and terrorism, and the BJP's attempts to blur the distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva." The CWC resolution accused the BJP and its affiliates of hatching a "diabolical design to confuse, mislead and misguide the people."

Making a clear distinction between Hinduism and the BJP's ``Hindutva,'' the resolution said "the Hindu dharma has nothing to do with narrow, bigoted Hindutva propounded and propagated by the RSS, the BJP and the VHP that distorts the very culture, values and legacy... " It also reaffirmed "not to let these moves go unchallenged." Expressing its resolve to combat "all forms of communalism and religious fundamentalism,'' the resolution described secularism as the battle for rescuing India's great religious traditions, teachings and practices from the "forces of bigotry and hate."

The Congress approach and belief in secularism "is anchored in a vision of Indian tolerance, with emphasis on harmony, national unity and integration.''

The party accused the BJP of "grossly misusing the great Hindu faith, for pernicious, partisan political purposes which can only divide our people and damage the country's unity, amity and integrity.''

Striking a combative note on terrorism, the Congress said that three of its leaders — Mahatama Gandhi, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi — had fallen victim to it.

On the other hand, it was a BJP Foreign Minister who had personally escorted three hardcore terrorists to Kandahar, and it was during the BJP rule that the Godhra carnage and the Gujarat riots, followed by the attack on Akshardham took place.

The Congress also took on the BJP for its handling of national security. Despite the Opposition's support, the BJP-led Central Government had failed to maintain security.

Calling for an immediate end to Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism, it deplored the "calculated effort of the BJP and its affiliates to use the confrontation with the country on communal lines."

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