Overview
- Speaking at a Calcutta Debating Circle event titled "Hinduism Needs Protection From Hindutva" in Kolkata, Mani Shankar Aiyar contrasted Hinduism as spiritual with Hindutva as a 20th-century political tract.
- Aiyar said Hindutva portrays 80% Hindus as threatened by 14% Muslims and cited alleged attacks on minorities and actions against Christmas displays.
- BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accused Congress of trying to divide Hindus in a post on X responding to Aiyar’s remarks.
- At the same event, BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi described Hindutva as "Hindu tattva" and argued that cherishing Hinduism constitutes Hindutva.
- Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra echoed the separation between Hinduism and Hindutva, calling the latter a rigid political platform.