AIUDF MLA slams RSS chief Bhagwat's 'Hindu Rashtra' remark, cites Constitution
Synopsis
AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam has directly challenged RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's reported claim that India is already a Hindu Rashtra, invoking the Constitution and citing Mughal, British, and Modi-era governance as evidence that India has never been defined by a single religion. The remarks sharpen a long-running fault line in Indian political discourse.
Key Takeaways
AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam on 28 April 2025 criticised RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat over reported remarks calling India a Hindu nation.
Islam asserted that India's secular character is explicitly mentioned in the Constitution .
He argued that neither Mughal rule nor 200 years of British rule changed India's identity, nor have the last 12 years under PM Narendra Modi .
Bhagwat had reportedly said there is no need to declare India a Hindu Rashtra as it already is one .
Islam urged Bhagwat, as a senior figure, not to mislead the people of India.
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA from Assam, Rafiqul Islam, on Tuesday, 28 April sharply criticised Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat over his reported remarks describing India as a Hindu nation, asserting that the country has always been secular and belongs equally to people of all faiths. Speaking from Guwahati, Islam said India's secular character is explicitly enshrined in the Constitution and cannot be redefined by any organisation.
What the AIUDF Leader Said
Islam was unequivocal in his pushback against Bhagwat's reported position.
Point of View
He subtly separates the RSS's ideological position from the government's legal one. Bhagwat's original remark, that no declaration is needed because the reality already exists, is a softer but more insidious formulation — it sidesteps legislative action while normalising the characterisation. The exchange reflects a broader tension in Indian politics between constitutional secularism as a legal fact and Hindutva as a civilisational claim, two arguments that will not be resolved by competing press statements.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat say about India being a Hindu nation?
Bhagwat reportedly stated at a recent programme that there is no need to formally declare India a Hindu Rashtra because it already is one. He added that the RSS is often asked to make such a declaration but maintained that declaring what already exists is unnecessary.
Why did AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam criticise Bhagwat's remarks?
Islam termed Bhagwat's statement misleading, arguing that India has always been a secular country whose inclusive identity is enshrined in the Constitution. He said the country belongs equally to Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, and followers of all other faiths.
What historical argument did Islam use to counter the Hindu Rashtra claim?
Islam pointed out that India did not become a Muslim nation during centuries of Mughal rule, nor a Christian nation during approximately 200 years of British rule. He argued this historical pattern demonstrates that India's identity has always remained multi-religious and inclusive.
What is the AIUDF and who is Rafiqul Islam?
The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) is a regional political party based primarily in Assam. Rafiqul Islam is an AIUDF Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Assam who has been a vocal critic of what he describes as attempts to alter India's secular character.
What does the Indian Constitution say about secularism?
The word 'secular' was inserted into the Preamble of the Indian Constitution through the 42nd Amendment in 1976, formally affirming that India is a secular state with no official religion. Islam cited this provision as the constitutional basis for his argument against Bhagwat's characterisation.
