Hindutva

BJP promoting 'corporate Hindutva' by selling names of deities: Congress

Referring to Mumbai Metro stations, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant alleged that the BJP's "corporate Hindutva" had reduced deities and national figures to marketing tools

Believer's Dilemma: A leader's struggle with power and self-doubt

A new biography unravels Atal Bihari Vajpayee's complex persona, tracing his political journey, inner conflicts, and role in shaping modern Indian politics

Malegaon blast case verdict is victory of Hindutva: Pragya Singh Thakur

Former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur on Sunday said the special court's verdict acquitting her in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case was a victory of Hindutva and a "slap on the face" of people who coined the term "saffron terror". The special court on July 31 acquitted Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and five others in the case, noting that the prosecution had not adduced cogent and reliable evidence to warrant conviction and prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Six people were killed and 101 were injured in the blast in Maharashtra's Nashik district on September 29, 2008. Speaking to reporters at the Raja Bhoj International Airport on her arrival in the city, Thakur said, "This is a victory of Hindutva and religion, a victory of saffron. Our scriptures say 'Satyamev Jayate' (truth alone triumphs), and it has been proved. Those who spoke of saffron terror have been shamed." The society and the country have given a befitting reply to those who coined the term saffron terror, she sai

Hostile Homelands: Azad Essa's book traces India-Israel ties before BJP era

The author, who is based in New York, notes that India's arms imports from Israel rose by 175 per cent between 2015 and 2019

Tribals and the Hindutva framework: New book explores RSS's evolving views

From Sarna to Ghar Wapsi, this book breaks new ground on the evolution of RSS's thinking on tribals and complex questions such as their treatment after conversion to Christianity

India ancient living civilisation due to immortal ideas of seers: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday India is the most ancient living civilisation of the world due to the immortal ideas and philosophies of its saints and seers. Speaking at the centenary celebrations of Jain spiritual figure Acharya Vidyanand Maharaj's birth anniversary here, PM Modi paid rich tributes to his contribution in different fields and asserted that his ideas have inspired the government's welfare schemes. Be it providing house, drinking water or health insurance, the government is ensuring saturation coverage of its welfare measures so that no one is left behind, he said. PM Modi also referred to the preceding speech of a Jain seer, noting that he was apparently blessing Operation Sindoor. The prime minister's mere mention of "Jo humein chhedega" brought massive cheers from the audience but he did not dwell any further on the issue. He said India introduced the world to the strength of "ahimsa" (non-violence) when it used violence to quell violence for thous

Let harmony prevail, communal hatred end in Mangaluru: CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday insisted that communal harmony must prevail and hatred must end in Dakshina Kannada district. The coastal district is on the boil following the murder of a youth on May 27 in Bantwal. Prohibitory orders have been clamped there till May 30. The Chief Minister on Thursday visited Congress MLC B K Hariprasad's residence where he had a discussion on the prevailing situation in Dakshina Kannada district. We had a general discussion on the prevailing situation in Mangaluru. There should be communal harmony in that region. There should not be any hatred among Hindus and Muslims. We have to bring harmony there, for which we had a discussion, Siddaramaiah told reporters after visiting Hariprasad's house. He said he has asked Hariprasad to visit Mangaluru. Regarding the revengeful killings in Dakshina Kannada, Siddaramaiah said, We will take action as per law against anyone involved in it irrespective of how influential that person is. No on

'One temple, one well, one cremation ground': RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

Seeking an end to caste differences, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has called upon members of the Hindu community to strive for social harmony by embracing the principle of "one temple, one well, and one cremation ground" for all. Bhagwat, on a five-day visit to Aligarh, spoke to 'swayamsevaks' at two 'shakhas' at HB Inter College and Panchan Nagri Park and emphasised that achieving true social unity was paramount for India to fulfil its global responsibility for peace. RSS sources said Bhagwat underscored the significance of "sanskar (values)" as the bedrock of Hindu society, urging its members to build a society rooted in tradition, cultural values and moral principles. He urged the 'swayamsevaks' to reach out to all sections of society, inviting them into their homes to spread the message of harmony and unity at grassroots level. Bhagwat stated that the "family" remains the fundamental unit of society, built upon strong family values derived from ...

Thackeray dubs 'Saugat-e-Modi' as 'Saugat-e-Satta', slams BJP's 'hypocrisy'

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday criticised the BJP for its 'Saugat-e-Modi' initiative for Muslims, labelling it as 'Saugat-e-Satta' intended solely for the upcoming Bihar elections, a remark that prompted strong response from the ruling party, which insisted it does not harbour anti-Muslim or anti-Christian sentiments. At a press conference in Mumbai, Thackeray accused the BJP of hypocrisy, arguing when the Shiv Sena (UBT) garnered significant support from Muslim voters in the Lok Sabha polls last year, the BJP condemned him for supposedly abandoning Hindutva, coining phrases like "Satta Jihad." "But now, the same people have reversed their position," he said. Questioning the sincerity of the BJP's 'Saugat-e-Modi' programme, Thackeray asked, "Will this 'Saugat-e-Satta' (gift of power) be limited to the Bihar elections (scheduled in 2025-end), or will it have a lasting impact? The BJP should also declare that it has given up Hindutva." In response, Maharashtra BJP

How RSS, Hindu Mahasabha contributed in making Constitution: A Raja to BJP

DMK leader A Raja hit out at the BJP on Saturday, claiming that the ruling party would have changed the Constitution had the words "secular" and "socialist" not been added to the Preamble of the document during Emergency. Participating in a debate on the Constitution in the Lok Sabha, Raja also dared the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to spell out the contribution of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Hindu Mahasabha to the making of the Constitution. The former Union minister said democracy alone was assaulted when the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) was imposed during Emergency, but under the BJP-led government, the basic structure of the Constitution, codified by the Supreme Court in the Kesavananda Bharti case, is under attack. "Democracy alone was assaulted during MISA, but in your regime, entire six elements (spelt out in the Kesavananda Bharati case), namely democracy, secularism, rule of law, equality, federalism, judicial impartiality, everything has ..

Govt not allowing discussion on plight of Hindus in Bangladesh: Sena (UBT)

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday accused the BJP-led Union government of not allowing a discussion in Parliament on the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The saffron party's Hindutva is "politically transactional, selfish and hypocritical," it said. The BJP's espousal of Hindutva is restricted to creating fear in the minds of the Hindus by raising slogans such as 'Batenge to Katenge' (divided we perish) and talking about the Uniform Civil Code and amendment to the Waqf Board Act, said the editorial. "A discussion on atrocities on Hindus is not allowed in Parliament and the proceedings are being stalled by the BJP over George Soros," it claimed. Incidents of atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh after the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina goverment do not make the BJP uncomfortable, Saamana alleged, adding that as the BJP is not contesting polls in the neighbouring country, it is not bothered about the Hindus there. Hindu outfits are organising demonstrations in West Bengal, Himachal .

BJP-RSS 'biggest tukde-tukde gang': Cong slams traitor jibe at Rahul

The Congress on Friday slammed the BJP for acussing Rahul Gandhi of conspiring to destabilise India and calling him a traitor, saying the truth is that BJP-RSS is the "biggest tukde-tukde" gang of this country and is spreading the "poison of communalism". The opposition party said the truth is that the work of destabilising the economy is being done by the people of BJP. The BJP on Thursday had claimed a link between Rahul Gandhi and international forces, including an investigative media platform, trying to destabilise India and that the Congress leader was a "traitor of the highest order". Patra claimed that billionaire investor George Soros and some US-based agencies, investigative media platform Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), and Gandhi occupy three sides of a "dangerous" triangle trying to destabilise India and stoke public disaffection for a regime change. "I have no hesitation in saying he (Gandhi) is a traitor of the highest order," he ...

Not only India but idea of Nehru itself needs to be defended: Jairam Ramesh

Both detractors and admirers of Jawaharlal Nehru are living in his shadow and, since 2014, the story is one of governance through maximum criticism of the country's first prime minister, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Wednesday. Speaking at the launch of writer-scholar Aditya Mukherjee's "Nehru's India", the Congress general secretary said one of the biggest takeaways from the book was that "not only the idea of India but the idea of Nehru itself needs to be defended". "...needs to be defended from its old critics, from its new critics, and it has to be reinterpreted for a changing India. I just want to say that we all live in the shadow of Nehru. Many of us have assimilated Nehru and many of us contest Nehru. And even those who contest Nehru cannot run away from the shadow of Nehru," the Rajya Sabha MP said. The book, published by Penguin, focuses on Nehru's understanding of history and India's cultural past while offering a window into his understanding of communalis

Opposition, BJP MPs debate over Mohan Bhagwat's call for 3-child norm

A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed concern over declining population growth, BJP leaders welcomed his remarks while the opposition asked where will additional resources come from in case of an increase. Food prices are high and the government has "failed" to create employment opportunities for people, they said. Speaking at an event in Nagpur on Sunday, Bhagwat highlighted the vital role of families and warned that according to population science, if a society's total fertility rate dips below 2.1, it could face extinction. "So when we say 2.1, this means it should be more, at least three. The (population) science says so," the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief said and described the declining population growth as a "serious concern". Asked about Bhagwat's remarks, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari said they are in national interest. "The RSS is a patriotic organisation. If Mohan Bhagwat ji has said something, then it would certainly be in the national interest. So it shoul

Delhi HC refuses to entertain plea seeking 'Sanatan Dharm Raksha Board'

Plea moved by Sanatan Hindu Sewa Sangh Trust through Advocate Ashok Kumar stated that, as per the Constitution of India, our country is a secular nation, which is explicitly mentioned in Constitution

RSS calls for Hindu unity, endorses the spirit of 'batengey toh katengey'

Hindu unity is crucial for everyone's good and "we should be cautious" against forces that seek to divide in the name of religion, caste and ideology, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale said on Saturday virtually endorsing the "batengey toh katengey (divided we fall)" remark by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. "If we discriminate/divide on the basis of language, state, upper and backward castes, then we will be decimated (Hum jaati, bhasha, prant agla-pitchda bhed se hum karengey toh hum katengey)," the leader of the BJP's ideological fountainhead told reporters on the second and concluding day of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's national meet here. He was asked about the 'batengey toh katengey' slogan first made by Adityanath and subsequently flagged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his rally in Thane, Maharashtra on October 5. Hosabale stressed that while the statement itself is not the focus, the spirit behind it is significant. "The issue is of Hindu

Three injured in rift between police, Hindu clan going to dip idol in Dhaka

At least three people were injured in a clash that broke out between police and Hindu community going to immerse idols following the conclusion of Durga Puja in an Old Dhaka locality, a media report said on Monday. The three people, including a police officer, were injured when miscreants threw bricks from the rooftop of Nur Super Market in Patuatuli area of Old Dhaka on the procession heading to immerse idols in the Buriganga river late Sunday night, The Daily Star newspaper said quoting an eyewitness. Following the attack, members of the Hindu community tried to enter the market but faced resistance from the police. Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge Md Enamul Hasan told the newspaper, The locals attempted to enter the market. For the sake of the market's security, we resisted them from entering, which eventually led to the clash." The officer further said that unable to control the situation, he informed the army and they arrived and dispersed the crowd. The situation is n

Complete disconnect between Bhagwat's remarks and govt's conduct: Sibal

A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's Vijayadashami address, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday said there is a disconnect between his statement and what the BJP-led government, which enjoys the Hindutva outfit's support, does on the ground. On Saturday, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief said India has become stronger and more respected globally with enhanced credibility over the last few years but sinister conspiracies are testing the country's resolve. Referring to Bhagwat's speech, Sibal said, "Mohan Bhagwat has given a good statement on Vijayadashami. He said that gods are divided in this country, it should not happen, the saints are divided, it should not happen. It is a country of different religions and languages." "Saint Valmiki wrote Ramayana, and hence all the Hindus should celebrate Valmiki Diwas. Why is it not happening? He said that as long as harmony is achieved, this will remain. I welcome his statement. But I want to ask a few questions, the RSS supports

Two cases registered after tension rose during RSS procession in Ratnagiri

Tension erupted in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri city during a procession of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) after members of a minority community allegedly shouted slogans, police said on Saturday. The police have registered two cases following the incident in the Konkan Nagar area on Friday night, an official from Ratnagiri city police said. "We have registered two cases based on complaints. Five accused have been identified, and we have issued notices to them. No one has been arrested so far," he said. When the RSS took out a procession (path sanchalan) in the area on the eve of the Dussehra festival, people from a minority community shouted slogans that allegedly hurt religious sentiments, the official said. He said there was no violence, but several people gathered at the police station late last night and demanded first information reports against persons involved in the incident. Cases have been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and a prob

B'desh's Hindu minority seeks political representation, considers new party

Hindu community leaders in Bangladesh are advocating for the formation of a dedicated political party, reflecting an urgent call for political representation to protect their rights and ensure their safety in an environment marked by instability and fear. Hindu leaders from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCOP) and other groups have been at the forefront of discussions about establishing a separate political party or demanding reserved parliamentary seats. There are currently three opinions that are being discussed in detail: first, going back to the separate electorate system from 1954; second, establishing a separate political party for Hindus; and third, reserving seats in Parliament for minorities, BHBCOP presidium member Kajal Debnath told PTI. In the wake of unprecedented violence and political upheaval in Bangladesh, the Hindu community -- the largest minority community in Bangladesh -- stands at a pivotal crossroads. The turmoil began after the ...