Hamid Ansari Raises Concern Over 'Cultural Nationalism' in India, Govt Hits Back

The former vice president's remarks drew flak from Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

A file photo of outgoing vice president Mohammad Hamid Ansari. 

(Photo: PTI)

Former Vice President Hamid Ansari on Wednesday, 26 January, expressed concern over India's emerging practice of 'cultural nationalism,' at a virtual event organised by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC). The remarks have elicited opposition from the government.

“In recent years, we have experienced emergence of trends and practices that dispute the well-established principle of civic nationalism and interposes a new and imaginary practice of cultural nationalism… It wants to distinguish citizens on the basis of their faith, give vent to intolerance, insinuate otherness, and promote disquiet and insecurity,” Ansari said at the event.

He also urged taking action against these human rights offenses by saying, “These trends need to be contested legally and contested politically.”

The remarks drew flak from Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who said, "This Indo-American Muslim Council, who had a link with SIMI and ISI, who used to propagate anti-India bashing and Modi bashing, has done it again."

The Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) is a banned terrorist organisation that was formed in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh in 1977.

'Conspiracy To Tarnish India's Image': Naqvi

"Yesterday, when the country was celebrating Republic Day... at that time, a conspiracy to defame India was being spread all over the world from the platform of the institution involved in conspiracies to tarnish the image of our country by a person sitting on a constitutional post," Naqvi said at a press conference.

"This is the organisation whose link is with ISI, its link is with all such organizations which are engaged in conspiracy and conspiracy to disturb the peace and harmony of the whole world," he said, alluding to the IAMC.

"The Modi bashing craze of the India bashing brigade has reached the limits of India bashing," he stated.

A United States senator and three members of the US Congress, who had spoken at the IAMC event, had also condemned the escalating violations of human rights, civil and political liberties, and religious freedom under Prime Minister Modi’s rule.