SP leader hits back at RSS chief's 'Hindu Rashtra' remark, saying it is not and never was

Lucknow: Refuting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent remark that India is a Hindu Rashtra, Samajwadi Party leader Swami Prasad Maurya said that the country is not a Hindu Rashtra and never was, but is based on strong tenets of inclusiveness of all faiths, creeds and sects.

"India is not a Hindu nation, and it never was. India is inherently a pluralistic nation," Maurya asserted via his official social media account on the X, writing in Hindi. He emphasized that the Indian Constitution is founded on the principles of a secular state, and it symbolizes the diversity of religions, faiths, sects, and cultures coexisting within India.

Bhagwat made his controversial remarks during the inauguration of 'Madhukar Bhavan' in Nagpur, where he asserted that India is a 'Hindu Rashtra,' suggesting that all Indians are Hindus and that Hinduism represents the collective identity of the nation.

While Bhagwat's remarks have found support among some quarters, they have also sparked a fierce debate, with critics arguing that India's true strength lies in its pluralism and secularism. Swami Prasad Maurya's firm rebuttal reflects the ongoing discourse on the nation's identity, highlighting the diverse perspectives within Indian politics and society.