Hindutva is a disease, says Iltija Mufti; BJP seeks apology for 'derogatory remarks'
Jammu, Dec 8: 'Hindutva' is a disease which is defaming Hinduism and leading to "lynching and persecution" of minorities especially Muslims, with the BJP using it to strengthen its vote bank, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija on Sunday said.
BJP took exception to the remark and demanded an apology for the "derogatory words".
"Ram the deity must hang his head in shame & watch helplessly as minor Muslim boys are whacked with chappals only because they refuse to chant his name. Hindutva is a disease thats (sic) afflicted millions of Indians & sullied a Gods name," Iltija wrote on X, reposting a video of an incident where a Muslim man is being beaten.
Later, talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Jammu, Iltija defended her remark and accused the BJP of allowing such a situation to take place in the country.
"There is a big difference between Hindutva and Hinduism. Hindutva is about the feeling of hatred, which (Vinayak Damodar) Savarkar (who developed the Hindu nationalist political ideology of Hindutva) used to spread in the 40s (1940s), which aimed to establish the hegemony of Hindus, and the philosophy was about India being of the Hindus and for the Hindus.
"Hinduism, like Islam, is a religion that promotes secularism, love and compassion, let's not deliberately distort it. Whatever I said, I said it openly. I have criticised Hindutva and I stand by my statement. Hindutva is a disease and we have to treat this condition," Iltija said.
She said the slogan Jai Shri Ram is no more about 'Ram Rajya'. It is used during mob lynching, she added.
Later in another tweet, Iltija said "much outrage over my tweet & also whataboutery about Islam. The senseless violence that's been carried out in the name of Islam is what caused Islamophobia in the first place. Today Hinduism (not Hindutva) also finds itself in a similar situation where it’s being used & abused to lynch & persecute minorities. Let's call spade a spade."
Asked about the cutting of water and power supply to slums housing Rohingyas in Jammu, she said the act symbolises the BJP's hate as it wants to punish and persecute the Muslims, whether they are Indians or Rohingya.
"India belongs to everyone whether you are a Muslim or a Hindu. They are playing politics over the issue of Rohingya but they do not know the condition of Kashmiri migrant pandit hamlet at Jagti. I visited Jagti township and saw the condition of the walls which are in shambles. No water, and they (pandits) are living in bad conditions. The BJP has made everyone's condition miserable," she said.
On attacks on Muslims, Iltija said hooligans have become emboldened by the ruling party which treats them as a votebank.
"How are laws being hijacked by hooligans in our country? How lynching is taking place, crime against Muslims has gone up… We condemn the violence there," she said referring to the last month's ruckus in Sambhal in which four men died.
Former J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina said, "There could be a difference of opinion in politics but hurting someone's religious sentiments is not acceptable."
He told PTI, "She has used derogatory words in a tweet while reacting to a doctored video, part of a conspiracy to create a wedge between Muslims and Hindus. She should seek forgiveness for using such words which are not tolerable." he told PTI.
On the National Conference government's move to restore water supply to the Rohingyas, he said it is time for the refugees to return to their country.
"The situation in Myanmar has improved and Rohingyas living in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have started returning to their country of origin. Time has come for those living in Jammu to return with respect," he said.
Ram the deity must hang his head in shame & watch helplessly as minor Muslim boys are whacked with chappals only because they refuse to chant his name. Hindutva is a disease thats afflicted millions of Indians & sullied a Gods name. https://t.co/NPpUBdYs2m
— Iltija Mufti (@IltijaMufti_) December 7, 2024
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SGPC writes to Mann, seeks ban on 'Emergency' in Punjab a day before release
Amritsar, Jan 16 (PTI): The SGPC on Thursday wrote to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, seeking a ban on the release of Kangana Ranaut's movie 'Emergency' saying it "tarnishes" the image of Sikhs and "misrepresents" history.
Actor and BJP MP Ranaut's 'Emergency' is slated to release in cinemas on January 17.
In the letter to Mann, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami expressed strong objection to Ranaut's film.
Dhami said that if the film is released in Punjab, it will spark "outrage and anger" in the Sikh community and therefore it is the responsibility of the government to ban its release in the state.
The SGPC, an apex gurdwara body, had earlier also protested the film.
"It has come to our attention that the movie 'Emergency' produced by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut is going to be released on 17th January 2025 in cinemas in different cities of Punjab and the tickets have also started to be booked," its letter to Mann read.
Dhami said the SGPC had also protested the release of the movie in a letter to the Punjab Chief Secretary on November 14 last year.
"But it is sad that the Punjab government has not taken any step till now. If this film is released on January 17, 2025, then it is natural to create outrage and anger in the Sikh world," the current letter read.
Dhami said the SGPC will submit a letter also to all the deputy commissioners in Punjab, seeking a ban on the film in the state.
The SGPC denounced the "character assassination" of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the Khalistani militant killed in 1984 in a military operation.
"If this film is released in Punjab, we will be forced to strongly oppose it at the state level," Dhami said.
In August last year, the SGPC sent a legal notice to the producers of the 'Emergency' film, alleging that it "misrepresented" the character and history of Sikhs, and asked them to remove the objectionable scenes depicting "anti-Sikh" sentiments.
In the notice, the producers of the film, including Kangana Ranaut, were asked to remove the trailer released on August 14 from all public and social media platforms and tender a written apology to the Sikh community.
The SGPC objected to film writing separate letters to the Minister of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Certification.
