Hindutva can't be blamed on Hinduism: N Ram

Mumbai: Hindutva is a "political project" and its rise cannot be blamed on Hinduism, senior journalist N Ram said here on Thursday.

Ram was speaking at a panel discussion on `Hindu Hinduism Hindutva' at Tata Literature Live festival.

"Hindutva is a political project and its founders made it clear. But don't confuse Hindutva with Hinduism," he said.

"Hindutva cannot be blamed on Hinduism. Hindutva is a political project and cynically used," Ram added.

National spokesperson of JD(U) Pavan Verma, who was also part of the panel, said "a handful of people" have appropriated the right to speak for all Hindus. "There are many shades and aspects of Hinduism which can be used to counter Hindutva," Verma said. "There are handful of people who say to other Hindus that if you don't behave in a certain manner, you are not a Hindu in our definition," he said.