When Rahul Gandhi Stirs Up ‘Hinduism’ Row, Congress Cadre is Confused, Voters Unmoved

When Congress national spokesperson Manish Tewari clarified over the “Hindutva-Hinduism debate” in a series of tweets, emphasising that the party should stick to its core ideology, no name of Rahul Gandhi was taken or suggested, but the dissenting voices were more definite in the corridors of Congress headquarters.

“I am frankly confused by this Hinduism qua Hindutva debate in the INC. If I want to base my politics on Hinduism or Hindutva, then I should be in Hindu Maha Sabha. If I want to base it on Islam, then I should be in Jamaat-e-Islami. Why should I be in INC India?” asked Congress leader Manish Tewari in a series of tweets on the debate around Hinduism that has stoked yet another controversy by the party.

“Why is the timing always wrong? Why do these people who don’t have to contest elections are landing us in trouble ahead of polls?” asked a Congress leader alluding to Rashid Alvi, Salman Khurshid and Mani Shankar Aiyar. The leader further asked, “Why did Rahul Gandhi have to even stir up the debate sitting in London? It gave a platter to the BJP. Look at other parties like TMC and SP, they stay away from this.”

The problem began with Salman Khurshid’s book, which compares the RSS to terrorist organisations ISIS and Boko Haram. The RSS may not be seen as a religious organisation but it is deeply entrenched in the philosophy of the Hindu religion and this is how the core Hindu vote bank sees it.