VHP, BJP hit back at Ansari over Hindu safety remarks

New Delhi — A political row intensified after Hamid Ansari, former Vice President of India, cited decades-old remarks while discussing concerns about Hindu safety, drawing sharp criticism from the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.

Ansari grounded his comments in a historical reference, citing observations attributed to Jawaharlal Nehru that were documented in a book by legal scholar A.G. Noorani. The former Vice President's invocation of the late Prime Minister's commentary appeared aimed at contextualizing his remarks within a broader historical perspective on communal tensions.

However, VHP and BJP spokespersons rejected Ansari's framing, with party representatives questioning the validity and relevance of his statements. The leaders suggested that raising concerns about Hindu safety required greater self-reflection before making such assertions publicly.

The exchange reflects deeper ideological divisions between India's secular establishment and Hindu nationalist organizations over how communal issues should be discussed and contextualized in public discourse. Both sides have increasingly looked to historical statements and precedents to buttress their respective positions on religious matters.