Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Hindu is not a religious concept, but a cultural identity: Venkaiah Naidu
BackBack

Hindu is not a religious concept, but a cultural identity: Venkaiah Naidu

Naidu slams attempts to create controversies whenever there is a reference to the word Hindu

Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader M. Venkaiah Naidu. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/MintPremium
Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader M. Venkaiah Naidu. Photo: Pradeep Gaur/Mint

Hyderabad: Amid a raging debate on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks, Union minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader M. Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday slammed attempts to create controversies whenever there is a reference to the word “Hindu".

“Hindu is a not a religious concept. Hindu is a cultural identity," the urban development and parliamentary affairs minister said at an event, days after Bhagwat said India is a Hindu nation and Hindutva is its identity.

“If Hindu is a religion, then why this (The) Hindu newspaper?... If Hindu is a religion, then why Hindustan Times newspaper and why Hindi akhbaar (newspaper) Hindustan? And why Hindustan Machine Tools (HMT)? Then why Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ? Then why Hindustan Shipyard? I can give 125 examples like this. These are not the names given by (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi or Venkaiah Naidu or somebody. This has been there in our traditions. On August 15, what do you say? ‘Jai Hind’: does it mean to say Hinduon ko Jai aur bakio ko nahi. Aisa hai kya?" Naidu said.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of year-long CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) 70th anniversary celebrations, he argued that when one talks of Swadeshi, it means to tap the knowledge which is available in India and then excel. “We are not opposed to getting anything from outside."

“India has given home to everybody, all the religions. Everybody has come here freely. This great culture, this nation has capacity to assimilate everybody."

“This is the deep-rooted culture of this country. And now some people try to make controversies out of nothing. And some people the very moment you talk of the word Hindu, they say (question) what is this Hindu?" Naidu said.

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More Less
Published: 21 Aug 2014, 09:02 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App