Aiyar Says Hindutva Differs From Hinduism; BJP Accuses Congress of Insulting Sanatan Dharma

Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar sparked a fresh political controversy on Sunday, January 11, 2026, by describing Hindutva as “Hinduism in paranoia” during a debate at the Calcutta Club in Kolkata. The event, titled “Hinduism Needs Protection From Hindutva,” was organized by the Calcutta Debating Circle and featured prominent speakers including Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, former MP Swapan Dasgupta, lawyer J. Sai Deepak, historian Ruchika Sharma, and journalist Ashutosh.

In his remarks, Aiyar sharply distinguished between Hinduism and Hindutva, calling the former a “great spiritual religion” that has endured for thousands of years without needing protection, while labeling Hindutva a “political tract” that emerged in 1923. He accused Hindutva of fostering fear among the 80 percent Hindu majority against the 14 percent Muslim minority, citing incidents such as alleged attacks on individuals over Christmas celebrations and beef-related vigilantism. Aiyar also referenced historical writings by V.D. Savarkar, claiming he viewed Buddhism as a threat to Hindu “virility” and non-violence, contrasting this with Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on ahimsa.

The comments drew immediate and strong backlash from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, who participated in the debate, questioned the cultural authority to debate religious matters in such terms and defended Hindutva as the “basic immunity” and essence of Hinduism, or “Hindu tattva.” BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Aiyar of insulting Sanatan Dharma and following the Congress party line that equates Hindutva with extremist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram. He pointed out that the Supreme Court has defined Hindutva as a way of life and likened the distinction to separating “Maa” (mother) from “Maatritva” (motherhood).

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The row highlights the ongoing ideological clash between the Congress and BJP over the interpretation of Hinduism and Hindutva. Aiyar’s remarks have reignited debates on the nature of religious identity, political ideology, and their role in contemporary Indian society. As the controversy spreads on social media and in political circles, both sides are expected to intensify their positions in the days ahead, with the issue likely to feature prominently in upcoming political discourse.

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