Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Sunday sparked controversy by describing Hindutva as “Hinduism in a state of paranoia” during a public discussion in Kolkata.
Aiyar was speaking at a debate titled “Hinduism Needs Protection From Hindutva”, organised by the Calcutta Debating Circle. At the event, he drew a clear distinction between Hinduism as a spiritual tradition and Hindutva as a political ideology.
He argued that Hindutva thrives on fear and insecurity, claiming it projects a narrative in which the Hindu majority is made to fear the Muslim minority. According to Aiyar, Hinduism is an ancient, resilient faith that does not need Hindutva for its survival.
The Congress leader criticised what he described as aggressive expressions of Hindutva, referring to attacks on minorities and restrictions on cultural and religious practices. He also contrasted the ideological positions of Mahatma Gandhi and V D Savarkar, saying Gandhi’s understanding of Hinduism was rooted in non violence, while Savarkar’s idea of Hindutva was centred on political assertion and confrontation.
Aiyar said Hinduism had withstood centuries of challenges and continued to flourish long before the emergence of Hindutva in the early twentieth century. He maintained that Hinduism is essentially a spiritual and philosophical way of life, while Hindutva functions as a political doctrine.
The Bharatiya Janata Party strongly criticised Aiyar’s remarks. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused the Congress of attempting to divide Hindus for political gain. In a post on X, he said the Congress strategy was to unite minorities while dividing the Hindu majority.
The debate also featured Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who echoed the distinction between Hinduism and Hindutva. She described Hindutva as a rigid political framework that claims exclusivity, while Hinduism, she said, allows diversity, interpretation and coexistence. Moitra argued that Hinduism accommodates varied cultural practices and interfaith harmony, which she claimed Hindutva often rejects.
Defending Hindutva, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi said it represents the core essence, or Hindu tattva, of Hinduism. He argued that Hinduism and Hindutva are complementary rather than contradictory and said Hindu civilisation uniquely encourages debate, including questioning of religious texts. He also questioned the use of the term “ism” for Indic religions, suggesting it is often used to undermine their philosophical depth.
