A political storm erupted on Saturday after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s remarks describing Hindus as central to the survival of the world. Responding sharply, senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Vijay Namdevrao Wadettiwar accused Bhagwat of “creating unnecessary fear” instead of addressing the real issues facing the nation.
Reacting to Bhagwat’s claim that “without Hindus, the world will cease to exist,” Wadettiwar questioned the intent behind such statements. “There is no question of Hindus ending in this country — there are over 125 crore Hindus. Why would they end? Who are you trying to scare?” he said, speaking to reporters in Nagpur.
Wadettiwar argued that India’s social fabric is strong and does not require fear-based narratives to sustain itself. “India has never been in danger because of its people. But today, people are suffering due to unemployment, inflation, and lack of development. The focus should be on governance, not on religious rhetoric,” he added.
Taking a dig at the BJP and its ideological mentor, the Congress leader said that invoking religion repeatedly was a strategy to divert attention from economic challenges. “Instead of talking about jobs, farmers, and rising prices, they keep returning to religion. This is not what the people voted for,” he pointed out.
