Srinagar: Ghulam Nabi Azad, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has ignited fresh discussions with his recent comments on the historical tapestry of religions in India. A video circulating across various social media platforms captures the former Congress leader sharing his viewpoint that "all individuals initially had connections with Hinduism in our nation."
Speaking at an assembly in the Thathri region of Doda district, Azad remarked, "Approximately 1,500 years ago, Islam came into existence, while Hinduism boasts ancient origins. It's possible that some Muslims migrated from foreign lands and joined the Mughal army. Consequently, there were conversions from Hinduism to Islam within the Indian subcontinent."
He went on, "An illustrative example can be found in Kashmir, where the predominant population consisted of Kashmiri Pandits six centuries ago before a significant shift to Islam occurred. This leads me to the conclusion that our shared heritage initially stems from Hinduism. Whether we are identified as Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, Brahmin, Dalit, Kashmiri, or Gujjar, our common roots tie us to this land. Our ancestral ties are deeply embedded here, and it is to this land that we will ultimately return beyond this lifetime," emphasized Azad's statement.
Azad asserted, "Hinduism stands as the oldest religion. The Mughal Army brought a small number of 10-20 Muslims to India; the majority underwent conversion. I addressed a range of issues within Parliament that might not have reached you. While a BJP leader mentioned the arrival of outsiders, I clarified that the focus should not be on insiders versus outsiders. Islam, both globally and in India, emerged 1,500 years ago, whereas the roots of Hinduism extend much further back."
On September 26 of the previous year, Azad inaugurated his own political entity, the 'Democratic Azad Party,' subsequent to his departure from the Congress party. With an impressive five decades spent in the Congress party, the 73-year-old politician held significant roles in both houses of Parliament, including J&K CM and Union Minister.
Azad's departure from the venerable party aligned with the trend of prominent politicians distancing themselves from it. This exit was seen as a substantial setback for the Congress, especially in anticipation of assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, as well as the party's 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' scheduled to commence on September 7.
Since his resignation, Azad has been openly critical of the Congress leadership. He previously expressed his viewpoint that the consultative framework was undermined when Rahul Gandhi assumed the role of Congress vice president in 2013. Azad also lamented the sidelining of experienced senior leaders and the rise of an inexperienced and compliant group to manage the party's affairs.
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