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Najma Heptullah clarifies her stand on Hindi-Hindu confusion

by IBNS 28 Aug 2014, 11:22 pm

New Delhi, Aug 29 (IBNS) Union Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptullah, who was slammed by Opposition for endorsing the RSS view on India as a nation of Hindus by culture and national identify, has now clarified her position saying she meant Hindi and not Hindu while speaking on the issue.

Heptullah said her words were misinterpreted and what she said is Hindi and not Hindu.

"I said we are Indians, that is our nationality. I used the world Hindi, H I N D I because it is an Arabic word. I did not say  H I  N D U - Hindu. I said it outside the Parliament also," said the union minister. 

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Tariq Anwar flayed Heptullah saying "it is unfortunate if she has said something like this to remain as a minister."  "It is reprehensible and especially when she says she is from the family of Maulana Azad," said Anwar. 

Earlier, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat had urged the Hindus to unite by breaking caste barriers and had harped on a Hindutva identity for the nation.

Bhagwat  said Hiduvta is the identity of the nation owing to the cultural practices of India.