India

‘Hindutva is Hinduism in paranoia...’: Mani Shankar Aiyar triggers row; BJP reacts

January 12, 2026

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar ignited controversy with his remarks distinguishing Hindutva from Hinduism, labeling the former as 'Hinduism in paranoia' during a debate in Kolkata. His comments, which suggest that Hindutva fosters fear among Hindus towards Muslims, have drawn sharp criticism from the BJP, who accused him of disrespecting Sanatan Dharma.

‘Hindutva is Hinduism in paranoia...’: Mani Shankar Aiyar triggers row; BJP reacts

Credit: Mathrubhumi

Key Highlights

Aiyar spoke at a debate titled 'Hinduism Needs Protection From Hindutva'.
He described Hindutva as making 80% of Hindus fearful of 14% of Muslims.
His analogy included a BJP leader's violent act against a tribal girl as a representation of Hindutva's exclusionary nature.
The BJP responded by accusing Aiyar of insulting Hinduism.

India All India

Sources

This quick summary is automatically generated using AI based on reports from multiple news sources. The content has not been reviewed or verified by humans. For complete details, accuracy, and context, please refer to the original published articles.

‘Hindutva is Hinduism in paranoia...’: Mani Shankar Aiyar triggers row; BJP reacts

Key Highlights

Sources

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