Iltija Mufti calls Hindutva a ‘disease,’ BJP seeks apology for 'derogatory' remarks

Iltija Mufti, a leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and daughter of former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, has sparked a controversy by describing Hindutva as a “disease.” This comment was made after a video surfaced showing three minor Muslim boys allegedly being forced to chant "Jai Shri Ram" and subsequently beaten by a man. Mufti criticized the use of religion in the act, claiming that it misrepresented Hinduism and led to violence against minorities.

Mufti’s remarks focused specifically on Hindutva, an ideology propagated by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, which asserts that India should be a Hindu nation. “Hindutva, which stems from Savarkar’s philosophy, aims to establish the dominance of Hindus in India. It promotes division, hate, and intolerance,” Mufti said. She clarified that her statement was not an attack on Hinduism as a religion, but on Hindutva as a political ideology. She described Hinduism as a religion of compassion, secularism, and peace.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reacted strongly to Mufti’s comments, accusing her of using derogatory language. BJP leader Ravinder Raina demanded an apology, stating, “There can be differences of opinion in politics, but derogatory language should not be used. It is unacceptable to hurt religious sentiments.” Raina further added that Mufti’s comments were an attempt to create division among communities.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) also condemned Mufti’s remarks, accusing her of attempting to gain political traction by targeting Hindu beliefs. VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal stated that attacking Hinduism and Lord Ram was part of a pattern of opposition leaders seeking to gain attention by undermining Hindu values. Bansal stressed that while Hindus in India are known for their tolerance, repeated attacks on religious sentiments should not be tolerated.

Iltija Mufti gained prominence in 2019 when she managed her mother Mehbooba Mufti’s social media accounts after her detention following the abrogation of Article 370. In 2024, she contested the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections from the Bijbehara constituency, where she was defeated by National Conference candidate Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri.

In response to the backlash, Mufti reiterated that her opposition was directed solely at Hindutva, not Hinduism. She expressed concern over the misuse of both Hinduism and Islam by extremists to justify violence. Mufti emphasized the need to address the growing influence of religious ideologies being used for political purposes, urging both Hindus and Muslims to safeguard the true essence of their religions.