Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says nothing wrong with Hindu Rashtra concept, BJP defends him.
HT Media | Lucknow | April 6, 2017:: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath endorsed the Hindu Rashtra theory on Thursday, saying there’s nothing wrong with such a move if that serves the interests of the people and country.
Right-wing groups led by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been pitching to make India a Hindu nation, a hugely debatable topic in a constitutionally secular country of 1.2 billion people of different faiths.
“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.
[In a free-wheeling and frank chat with DD News’ Ritu Verma, Adityanath spoke on a range of issues related to his nearly 60 snappy decisions related to BJP election manifesto encompassing loan-waiver for farmers, illegal slaughter ban, security for girls and women and development of UP; within a span of 18 days since he assumed office. -Ed. HE].
He said no one should have a problem in accepting a Hindu nation if such a move helped people live a better life and brought joy to them.
The BJP defended Yogi’s remarks saying that the chief minister had not said anything wrong.
“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 said.
Adityanath, a five-term parliamentarian and head priest of Gorakhnath mutt in Gorakhpur, was appointed chief minister last month after the BJP won an unprecedented 325 seats with its allies in the February-March assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
“Main kisi ke mooh par tape nahi laga sakta … mujhe jo karna hai pradesh ke hit main kaam karna hai (I can’t shut people up. I will continue to work for the people.),” he said, responding to a query on negative reports in international media about his image of being a champion of Hindutva.
“My guide is the Modi government at the Centre. It’s my inspiration. I will follow that.”
His Hindu Rashtra line underscores the views of the RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor.
The Sangh, however, explains that its Hindu nation theory has more to do with the country’s name Hindustan — a far-reaching social movement, rather than a restricted religious concept.
Courtesy: HINDU EXISTENCE.
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