Rahul Gandhi explains difference between Hinduism and Hindutva at 'Jan Jagran Abhiyan'

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday, Nov 12 addressed a training programme of 'Jan Jagran Abhiyan' via video conferencing, during which he stated that Hindutva and Hinduism are two different things and stressed the need to explore and understand such differences. While pointing out the difference between Hinduism and Hindutva he said,

“What is the difference between Hinduism & Hindutva, can they be the same thing? If they're the same thing, why don't they have the same name? They're obviously different things. Is Hinduism about beating a Sikh or a Muslim? Hindutva of course is.''

Further, Rahul Gandhi also acknowledged that the “hateful ideology” of RSS and BJP has now overshadowed Congress’ ideology because the Congress did not propagate it “among our own people aggressively”. He stated,

“Today, whether we like it or not, the hateful ideology of RSS & BJP has overshadowed the loving, affectionate and nationalistic ideology of Congress Party, we have to accept this. Our ideology is alive, vibrant but it has been overshadowed.”

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks come amid controversy that erupted due to a passage in veteran Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s book 'Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times'. BJP has criticised the Congress and demanded the expulsion of Khurshid from the party for reportedly comparing Hindutva with the “jihadist Islam of terrorist groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram” in his book.