Uttarakhand: 'Won't Let The BJP Hijack The Word Hindu', Says Senior Congress Leader Harish Rawat

Former chief minister of Uttarakhand and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat has said that he would not allow the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to “hijack the word Hindu". He reportedly added that the Congress will launch a Parivartan Yatra in Uttarakhand in September against the BJP government.

The yatra will be used for making people aware of the "failures" of the BJP governments in Uttarakhand and at the Centre.

He added: "The BJP has emptied Hinduism of its vital elements and reduced it to Hindutva. We are Hindus in our values. We believe in Sanatan Dharma. We won't let it hijack the word Hindu.”

Rawat accused the BJP government in Uttarakhand "of undoing all reforms introduced in education and health sectors during his tenure."

He added that the BJP believes in fighting with all religions. “Being Hindus, we believe in Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam (entire earth is one family), Sarva Dharma Sambhav (equality of religions) but the BJP believes in Sarva Dharma Jhagda Bhav (quarrelling with all religions).”