New Delhi, February 11
Amidst Opposition’s hue and cry over ‘Hindutva’, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today maintained that ‘Hindutva’ was neither a religion nor a way of worship but encompassed all sections of society.
“Hindutva is not a religion but a philosophy which encompasses all irrespective of caste or creed and it is timeless...and I think a debate on the issue must go on,” Mr Vajpayee said at the “Samarpan Divas” function organised at the BJP Headquarters here to mark the death anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh.
Paying rich tributes to Pandit Upadhyaya, the Prime Minister said the founder of the Jana Sangh was a role model for all party workers known for his honesty and simplicity.
Referring to the criticism of globalisation by many without realising that it was not an end in itself, he said one should not forget that all “isms” had failed and it was imperative that one should take a holistic view of human welfare before flaying any system.
“In today’s prevailing economic scenario, where it has become a free market, there was need to debate on integral humanism propounded by Pandit Upadhyaya,” Mr Vajpayee said.
Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani stressed on the need for India and Pakistan coming together voluntarily and forming a confederation as envisaged by Pandit Upadhyaya.
