Secularism survives in India due to Hindutva: Venkaiah Naidu

Hyderabad, Sep 25: There is secularism in India because of Hindutva, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said here today.

"This country is Hindustan. Neither you nor I named it so. Secular psyche exists in the people of this country.

Hindutva is secularism, which is welcoming (people from) all over the world and giving them space for debate," he said.

"Because of Hindutva, there is secularism in this country. Why there is no secularism in Pakistan? Why there is no secularism in Bangladesh? After all, they are our brethren. They got separated," he said at an event organised on the 99th birth anniversary of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.

Unable to digest their humiliating defeat in elections as well as the growing popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress and other political rivals have indulged in a disinformation campaign against the NDA government, he alleged.

"Parties and people who played communal politics and aligned with communal parties like Kerala Congress and Majlis are blaming BJP of communalism which needs to be exposed," he said.

Referring to the beef ban, he said religion and food are personal choices.

"We did not impose these (ban). These bans were imposed during the Congress regime. They were imposed in Kashmir, Maharashtra and Karnataka during Congress rule. What one should eat is a personal choice. There is no party policy. Centre has not instructed anybody that beef can be banned," he said.

He said that opposition to Yoga and "surya namaskar", which promote physical fitness, is due to "foreign influences."

Taking a swipe at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Naidu said that he is now going to Bihar to canvas for those who were jailed for corruption.

He expressed confidence that the BJP and its allies would get a comfortable majority after the Bihar assembly elections.

PTI