VHP criticises Hamid Ansari of 'Nehruvian, radical mindset' over 'Hindu communalism' remarks

The VHP hit out at former vice president Mohammad Hamid Ansari over remarks on "Hindu right-wing communalism", alleging that the views reflect his "Hindu-hating, Nehruvian and radical mindset".

VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal said on Sunday that before describing India's majority Hindu society as a "threat to India", Ansari should have looked at the "mirror" of his own public life.

During an event on Friday, Ansari quoted former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's statement that the "real danger to India is not communism, but Hindu right-wing communalism".

The former vice president pointed out that Nehru's remarks, made during a meeting of officers of the Ministry of External Affairs and recorded by former foreign secretary Jagat Singh Gundevia, were documented by constitutional expert A G Noorani in his 2019 book 'The RSS: A Menace to India'.

Ansari was highlighting what he described as emerging trends challenging civic nationalism while speaking at the India Islamic Cultural Centre to commemorate Noorani.

Reacting to his remarks, Bansal on X said, "While serving as vice president, your presence at events linked to the PFI, and despite numerous dark stains of sabotaging national interests during your time as ambassador, today you are lecturing Hindus on communalism? Remember, if Hindus were truly communal, you would not have had the audacity to make such a statement."

Bansal also slammed Ansari for criticising the Ayodhya verdict, saying that India has the largest number of mosques in the world.

"You must know that the world's largest number of mosques are in India. You previously criticised the historic verdict on Shri Ram Janmabhoomi, and now, by making baseless rants against Hindu society, you are once again revealing your radical mindset," he alleged.

Bansal also accused Ansari of having an “anti-India and Hindu-hating mindset".

"Come out of the Nehruvian, Jinnah-ite and Hindu-hating mindset and express gratitude for the position, respect, money and prestige that the country bestowed upon you. Do not be ungrateful," he said.

"Next time, before lecturing others, it would be better if you looked at your own reflection in the mirror," Bansal added.