Salman Khurshid's house torched after he compared Hindutva to Islamic terrorist organizations

On his official Facebook page, Khurshid posted photos and videos of smashed window glass, burnt doors, and flames. In a video, two guys can be seen attempting to put out the fire. 

Salman Khurshid, a senior Congress politician and former Union Minister, had his home in Nainital attacked. This comes at a time of widespread protest against Khurshid's book, "Sunrise over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Time." The book's reference to Hindutva, which was compared to the Islamic terrorist organization ISIS, sparked outrage. On Facebook and Twitter, Khurshid himself posted video of the incident.

The attack took place on Monday afternoon.15-20 persons stormed into the property and vandalized the windows and flowerpots before lighting fire to the gate with diesel gasoline, according to the caretaker of the residence. 

Since the publication of his new book, Mr. Khurshid has been in the headlines. "Sanatan Dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints were being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to the jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years." These lines from the book have triggered the BJP and other radical rightists in the country.

The Hindu Sena, a right-wing organization, has urged that Salman Khurshid's book be banned, stating that his comparison of Hindutva to jihadist Islam used by terrorist organizations violates societal integrity and harms Hindu religious emotions.

Hindu Sena head Vishnu Gupta wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that the connection drawn in the book is an effort to defame Hinduism.

This book comparing Hindutva and Hinduism to terror outfits like ISIS and Boko Haram is an attempt to demonize the Hindu religion. These kinds of statements in a book can give publicity to the book but this harms the social integrity and hurts the sentiments of millions of Hindus residing in the country and all over the world.", Gupta wrote in the letter.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and others have strongly condemned the incident. Tharoor said those in power should strongly condemn the growing intolerance in politics.

 

This is disgraceful. @salman7khurshid is a statesman who has done India proud in international forums &always articulated a moderate, centrist, inclusive vision of the country domestically. The mounting levels of intolerance in our politics should be denounced by those in power. https://t.co/OQFBoN1Pgw

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 15, 2021