Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s home in Nainital was allegedly vandalized and set on fire on Monday, days after it was known that his book on Ayodhya drew comparisons between Hindutva outfits and terrorist organizations, such as Boko Haram and ISIS, angering the BJP and Hindu fundamentalist groups.
The report on vandalism of Khurshid’s home first appeared on NDTV.
On his official Facebook page, Salman Khurshid shared photographs and videos that showed shattered window panes, charred doors and flames. Two men are seen trying to put off the fire in a video.
He took it to Facebook and wrote, “I hoped to open these doors to my friends who have left this calling card. Am I still wrong to say this cannot be Hinduism?”
Khurshid further sharing the pictures of his vandalized home wrote, “So much is a debate now. Shame is too ineffective a word. Besides I still hope that we can reason together one day and agree to disagree if not more.”
The senior Congress leader has been at the centre of criticism from BJP and Hindutva organizations after it became known that his book ‘Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times,’ released on November 10, contained observations on Hindutva politics and how religion was being used to reap electoral dividends by the BJP.
A particular passage in the book was objected by Hindutva groups, which reads as follows: “Sanatan Dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints were being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to the jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years.”
While accusing Salman Khurshid of “hurting Hindu sentiments”, the Bhartiya Janata Party said that Congress was resorting to “communal politics” to garner Muslim votes. Khurshid, however, stood by his remarks.
Backing Khurshid, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sought to differentiate between ‘Hinduism’ and ‘Hindutva’, saying, “What is the difference between Hinduism – as we know it – and Hindutva? Are they the same thing? Can they be the same thing? Is Hinduism about beating a Sikh or a Muslim? Is Hinduism about killing Akhlaq? Hindutva, of course, is. Where is it written that religion is about killing an innocent man, I am unable to find this.”
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said that Salman Khurshid drawing comparisons between Hindutva organizations and global terrorist outfits amounted to “exaggeration”.
