Uttar Pradesh's new Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has landed himself in a fresh controversy after voicing his opinion on the 'Hindu Rashtra' theory. His remark has triggered a slew of comments from various political parties- both critricising and defending him.
Congress took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence over the entire episode. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said Adityanath needs a proper class in Indian Constitutional Law and he would be keen to give him one free of cost.
"Clearly silence is consent when the speaker is a chief minister who is directly calling his own PM as agreeing with this view and him as implementing that view. So, I think unless we hear otherwise, you must assume that the PM has a much distorted definition," he said.
Adityanath reportedly said that there is nothing wrong in the Hindu Rashtra concept as the Supreme Court has defined Hinduism as a way of life.
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"Hindu Rashtra ki awadharna kahin galat nahi hai … desh ki full bench ki Supreme Court ne iss par apna aadesh jaari kiya hai yeh. Hindutva koi mat, koi majhab ya upasana vidhi nahi hai. Balki it’s a way of life (There is nothing wrong in the Hindu Rashtra concept. The Supreme Court has defined Hinduism as a way of life.)," monk-politician Adityanath said in an interview to Doordarshan.
Singhvi said the 'Hindu Rashtra' theory "was completely contrary to the ethos of our country and to the 'Idea of India' and to all manner of spirit of the Constitution but what is more important is that your question should have received the answer from the Prime Minister."
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His Hindu Rashtra line underscores the views of the RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor.
The BJP promptly came in defence of the leader . "For far too long we have been pseudo-seculars who frowned upon anything that is Hindu. What’s wrong in the CM’s statement? He said that he would follow the path of peace and progress. Hinduism has always stood for peace," state BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak was quoted saying to Hindustan Times.
With PTI Inputs
