Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravinder Raina on Monday criticized People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti for her statement calling Hindutva a “disease,” labeling it as “irresponsible and objectionable.” Raina accused Mufti of attempting to create a “divide” in society and harming the religious sentiments of the people.
“The statement of PDP leader Iltija Mufti is a very irresponsible, objectionable statement… The tweet by Mufti hurts the religious sentiments of people… This is an attempt to create a divide in society… We should respect the rule of law and the Constitution… The law will take its course. She should apologize for her tweet,” Ravinder Raina told media.
The controversy erupted after Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, reacted to a purported video showing minor Muslim boys being forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram.’ Mufti called Hindutva “a disease” that has “afflicted millions of Indians & sullied a God’s name.” She further stated, “Ram, the deity, must hang his head in shame & watch helplessly as minor Muslim boys are whacked with chappals only because they refuse to chant his name.”
The BJP quickly responded, accusing Mufti of making derogatory remarks about Lord Ram and hurting the faith of millions. “It will not be acceptable if anyone starts making comments against another religion. She has made derogatory statements against Lord Ram and hurt the faith of people,” BJP leader Kavinder Gupta said.
On Sunday, Iltija Mufti clarified her controversial statement, explaining that she was not criticizing Hinduism but rather Hindutva, which she described as a “philosophy of hate.” She emphasized the distinction between Hinduism, a religion promoting secularism, love, and compassion, and Hindutva, an ideology associated with promoting Hindu hegemony. Mufti also criticized the use of the slogan “Jai Shri Ram,” claiming it is being misused to spread hate rather than promoting the ideals of “Ramrajya.”
“There is a lot of difference between Hindutva and Hinduism. Hindutva is a philosophy of hate that Veer Savarkar spread in India in the 1940s with the aim of establishing the hegemony of Hindus, and the philosophy was that India belongs to Hindus and is for Hindus. Like Islam, Hinduism is also a religion that promotes secularism, love, and compassion. So, let’s not deliberately distort it,” she said.
Mufti’s clarification has done little to quell the controversy, with BJP leaders continuing to criticize her remarks.