{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Political Row Erupts Over Hamid Ansari's Remarks Citing Nehru on Right-Wing Communalism, BJP and VHP Hit Back",
  "summary": "Delivering a memorial lecture in New Delhi, former Vice President Hamid Ansari described right-wing communalism as a major threat to India, prompting sharp rebukes from BJP leaders and the VHP.",
  "content": "A sharp political confrontation has broken out following statements made by former Vice President Hamid Ansari during a commemorative gathering at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi. Addressing the third AG Noorani Memorial Lecture on September 18, Ansari referred to a historical remark by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, stating that the primary hazard confronting India is not communism or leftist thought, but right-wing communalism. The remarks triggered swift and intense counterattacks from prominent Bharatiya Janata Party figures and right-wing organisations, who questioned Ansari's intentions and perspective.\n\nThe AG Noorani Connection and Nehru's Historical Precedent\nReflecting on the legacy of constitutional expert, author, and political commentator AG Noorani, Ansari highlighted his intellectual contributions. He specifically referenced Noorani's 2019 book, 'The RSS: A Menace to India', noting that it stood out as perhaps the author's final major published work. Drawing directly from the context laid out in the book's preface, the former Vice President revisited a crucial observation originally made by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.\n\nAccording to Ansari, Nehru had addressed a gathering of External Affairs Ministry officials regarding the key challenges ahead for the nation. During that interaction, Nehru had asserted that the true challenge confronting India did not stem from left-wing movements or communism, but from Hindu right-wing communal forces. Ansari brought this historical assessment into focus to draw parallels with modern governance and social dynamics in India.\n\nConcerns Over Civic Nationalism Giving Way to Cultural Hegemony\nAnsari broadened the scope of his address beyond historical quotations, expressing grave concern regarding the broader transition taking place in contemporary Indian polity. He warned that the nation appears to be steadily moving away from its foundational principles of civic nationalism toward cultural nationalism. According to Ansari, patterns of governance and political conduct have emerged in recent times that directly subvert well-established tenets of constitutional and civic unity.\n\nHe elaborated that an electoral majority is increasingly being interpreted and projected as a religious majority, creating an environment that seeks to establish a monopoly over political authority. Such approaches, Ansari pointed out, result in the categorisation and division of citizens along religious lines, fueling intolerance while breeding alienation, insecurity, and distance among minority segments of the population. Highlighting several recent developments across the country, he emphasized that such ideological shifts require determined resistance on both legal and political fronts.\n\nUnion Minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP Leaders Issue Fierce Rebuttals\nThe remarks drew an immediate backlash from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leadership, with several figures openly challenging Ansari's track record and rhetoric. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the former Vice President, arguing that such political stances represent a selective and partisan lens. Taking direct aim at the remarks, Rijiju stated, “That is the biggest problem. They will not speak a single word about fundamentalists, religious fanatics, extremists and separatists.”\n\nJoining the offensive, BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari sought to link Ansari's assertions to the broader ideological playbook of the Congress party. Bhandari claimed that Ansari's critique mirrors the sustained political narrative championed by Congress strategists over the years. Pointing back to a 2009 episode involving remarks linked to Rahul Gandhi, Bhandari accused the principal opposition party of attempting to build political capital around the concept of 'Hindu terror'. He asserted that Ansari's speech was merely an extension of that same long-running political strategy.\n\nIn a parallel criticism, BJP leader Neelam Sonkar described the remarks as unfortunate and unwarranted. She remarked that Ansari has previously engaged in rhetoric centered on Hindu-Muslim divides and communal fault lines, urging him to look at the ground reality of social cohesion and nation-building rather than making divisive assertions.\n\nVHP Emphasizes India's Deep-Rooted Culture of Pluralism and Tolerance\nThe Vishva Hindu Parishad also weighed in with strong objections through its senior leader Surendra Jain. Rebutting Ansari's claims, Jain underlined that Indian civilization is fundamentally anchored in tolerance, inclusivity, and accommodation for diverse faiths and practices. Challenging the premise of Ansari's thesis, Jain questioned how Ansari could have risen to such prominent public offices and voiced his opinions freely if Hindu society were genuinely communal, rigid, or intolerant.\n\nJain also recalled past remarks made by Ansari, alleging that such frequent commentary undermines social harmony and weakens the bonds among diverse communities across the nation. The VHP leader called on Ansari to refrain from offering assessments that risk straining communal peace, insisting that public figures who have served in high constitutional offices bear a responsibility to foster harmony rather than division.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThis high-profile political face-off intensifies the broader national debate over civic nationalism, secularism, and political identity in India.\n\n• Across India: The sharp clash between a former constitutional dignitary and ruling party leaders is set to sharpen ideological fault lines in national politics. Debates around electoral majoritarianism versus constitutional secularism will likely dominate political discussions and legislative sessions.\n• For Common Citizens: Public disagreements among seasoned leaders directly influence civic awareness regarding constitutional rights and political culture. Citizens will see deeper scrutiny of how political parties leverage historical statements and ideological branding.\n• In Political Narratives: Accusations linking past political stances on communalism will resurface during electoral campaigns and media debates. Voters will witness starker policy and ideological contrasts between competing political blocs.\n• On Social Cohesion: High-level ideological contentions frequently translate into heightened public and digital debates across communities. It highlights the growing importance of maintaining grassroots communal harmony and open civil dialogue.\n\nWhy this happened\nThe confrontation was triggered by former Vice President Hamid Ansari invoking an old remark by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during a memorial lecture, where he identified right-wing communalism as the primary threat to the country. This prompted immediate, pointed responses from ruling party representatives and socio-political bodies.\n\n• Immediate Trigger: Delivering the third AG Noorani Memorial Lecture in New Delhi on September 18, Ansari cited Nehru to argue that right-wing communalism posed a greater risk than communism. He also raised concerns over electoral majoritarianism overtaking traditional civic nationalism.\n• Ideological Context: Ansari drew his argument from the preface of AG Noorani's 2019 publication, 'The RSS: A Menace to India', which recorded Nehru's interactions with foreign service officials. Connecting that historical perspective to contemporary conditions sparked immediate political friction.\n• BJP Counteroffensive: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and party leaders accused Ansari of selective silence regarding religious extremism and separatism. BJP spokespersons characterized the remarks as an extension of past political rhetoric surrounding 'Hindu terror'.\n• VHP's Rebuttal: VHP leader Surendra Jain defended Hindu society's foundational tradition of tolerance and plurality, arguing that Ansari's prominent rise and current public platform themselves reflect the broad-mindedness of Indian society.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. Where did Hamid Ansari make these controversial remarks?\nHe made the remarks on September 18 during the third AG Noorani Memorial Lecture at the India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi.\n\n2. What reference to Jawaharlal Nehru did Hamid Ansari cite?\nHe stated that Nehru, in a meeting with External Affairs Ministry officials, observed that India's real danger was right-wing communalism rather than communism.\n\n3. Which book did Ansari refer to during his address?\nHe referred to the 2019 book titled 'The RSS: A Menace to India', authored by AG Noorani.\n\n4. How did Union Minister Kiren Rijiju respond to Ansari's statement?\nKiren Rijiju criticized the stance, asserting that critics like Ansari remain completely silent on fundamentalists, religious fanatics, extremists, and separatists.\n\n5. What was the reaction from VHP leader Surendra Jain?\nSurendra Jain cited India's heritage of tolerance and asked how Ansari could freely make such statements if Hindu society were genuinely communal or intolerant.\n\n6. What accusation did BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari level?\nPradeep Bhandari accused Ansari's statement of mirroring the ideological politics historically pursued by the Congress regarding 'Hindu terror'.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/delhi/purva-uparashtrapati-hamid-ansari-ke-dakshinapnthi-sanpradayikata-vale-bayana-para-siyasi-ghamasana-bjp-aura-vhp-ne-sadha-nishana-34312",
  "category": "Delhi",
  "publishedAt": "2026-09-19",
  "tags": [
    "Hamid Ansari",
    "Kiren Rijiju",
    "Jawaharlal Nehru",
    "AG Noorani",
    "BJP",
    "VHP",
    "Communalism"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}