Union Minister Najma Heptulla denies endorsing Hindutva
- 5 years ago
A day after she virtually endorsed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s view that all Indians are Hindus, Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla on Friday denied endorsing Hindutva.
In a short statement the leader said that she had used word 'Hindi', which is Arabic, not 'Hindu'. "I had said 'we are Indians. That is our nationality. I said 'Hindi' which is an Arabic word. I did not say 'Hindu'. Whatever I said, was about me. My focus is on development and backwardness. I said Hindi. I stand by fact that we are all Indians," said the BJP leader.
During an interview to an English daily, the minister said there is nothing wrong with calling Indian citizens Hindus.
Heptulla, the only Muslim minister in the Modi cabinet, also used a series of analogies from Islam to support her point. In an interview to HT, the minister said that the Arab world referred to India as “al-Hind” and even invoked Prophet Mohammed and said his aunt’s daughter was named “Hinda”.
Political parties have already started reacting to the incident. Nationalist Congress Party leader Tariq Anwar said that the minister was making such comments to save her seat. "Such remarks are very shameful. The minister wants to appease her seniors and hence she is making such statements," said Anwar.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tewari said that the BJP leader should read the Constitution before making such statements.
For More information on this news visit: http://www.itvnewsindia.com/
For More information on this news, visit: http://www.indianews.ind.in/
Connect with us on Social platform at: http://www.facebook.com/IndiaNewsTV
Subscribe to our You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/itvnewsindia
Connect with us on Social platform at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/India-News/371196196360607
In a short statement the leader said that she had used word 'Hindi', which is Arabic, not 'Hindu'. "I had said 'we are Indians. That is our nationality. I said 'Hindi' which is an Arabic word. I did not say 'Hindu'. Whatever I said, was about me. My focus is on development and backwardness. I said Hindi. I stand by fact that we are all Indians," said the BJP leader.
During an interview to an English daily, the minister said there is nothing wrong with calling Indian citizens Hindus.
Heptulla, the only Muslim minister in the Modi cabinet, also used a series of analogies from Islam to support her point. In an interview to HT, the minister said that the Arab world referred to India as “al-Hind” and even invoked Prophet Mohammed and said his aunt’s daughter was named “Hinda”.
Political parties have already started reacting to the incident. Nationalist Congress Party leader Tariq Anwar said that the minister was making such comments to save her seat. "Such remarks are very shameful. The minister wants to appease her seniors and hence she is making such statements," said Anwar.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manish Tewari said that the BJP leader should read the Constitution before making such statements.
For More information on this news visit: http://www.itvnewsindia.com/
For More information on this news, visit: http://www.indianews.ind.in/
Connect with us on Social platform at: http://www.facebook.com/IndiaNewsTV
Subscribe to our You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/itvnewsindia
Connect with us on Social platform at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/India-News/371196196360607