New Delhi, September 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari’s remarks citing former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s warning about “Hindu right-wing communalism” have triggered a political controversy, with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the All India Imam Organisation strongly criticising his comments.
Ansari made the remarks while delivering the third A.G. Noorani Memorial Lecture in New Delhi on September 18. The event, titled Remembering a Polymath: The Life and Times of Abdul Ghafoor Noorani, was organised to commemorate the life and work of the late jurist, constitutional expert and author A.G. Noorani.
Referring to Noorani’s 2019 book The RSS: A Menace to India, Ansari cited a passage in which the author referred to an observation attributed to Nehru during a meeting of Ministry of External Affairs officials. The observation was recorded by former Foreign Secretary Jagat Singh Gundevia.
Quoting the passage, Ansari said: “The danger to India, mark you, it is not communism; it is Hindu right-wing communalism.”
Ansari also referred to what he described as emerging trends challenging the principle of civic nationalism in favour of what he called “cultural nationalism”. He said such an approach could portray an electoral majority as a religious majority and distinguish citizens on the basis of their faith.
The remarks drew a sharp response from the VHP.
VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal questioned Ansari’s comments and his public position, saying the former Vice President had held several senior constitutional and diplomatic positions before raising concerns about Muslims and communalism.
Bansal also referred to controversies surrounding Ansari’s tenure as Vice President and his earlier diplomatic career, while criticising what he described as his comments against Hindu society.
The VHP spokesperson further questioned Ansari’s reference to the Muslim community and said the former Vice President should respect the constitutional office he had previously held.
The All India Imam Organisation also criticised Ansari’s remarks. Chief Imam Umar Ahmed Ilyasi alleged that Ansari was attempting to enter politics by invoking the Muslim community.
Ilyasi said Muslims were capable of assessing political statements and questioned what he described as the intention behind Ansari’s remarks.
He further alleged that such rhetoric could contribute to tensions in the country and said the former Vice President should reconsider the language and perspective reflected in his comments.
The controversy comes amid an ongoing political debate over secularism, civic nationalism, cultural nationalism and the role of religious identity in public life. Ansari’s comments have been defended by their supporters as a discussion of Noorani’s writings and historical political observations, while critics have objected to the framing of Hindu right-wing politics in the context of a perceived threat to India.
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