Jihad not just in Islam but also in Bhagavad Gita, Christianity: Shivraj Patil

Senior Congress leader Shivraj Patil on Thursday (October 21) claimed that the concept of jihad was not just in Islam but also in Bhagavad Gita and in Christianity.

The BJP hit out at the Congress over Patil’s remarks and accused it of playing vote bank politics.

Also read: Dhankhar asks Mamata to withdraw jihad against BJP remark

The Congress said it was “unacceptable” and added that “Bhagavad Gita is a key foundational pillar of Indian civilisation”.

My senior colleague Shivraj Patil reportedly made some comments on Bhagavad Gita that’s unacceptable. Subsequently, he clarified. @INCIndia’s stand is clear. Bhagavad Gita is a key foundational pillar of Indian civilisation. Here’s an excerpt from Nehru’s Discovery of India(p110) pic.twitter.com/rarJub7xTy

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 21, 2022

Speaking at the launch of Congress veteran and former Union minister Mohsina Kidwai’s biography, the former Lok Sabha Speaker and Union minister Patil stated that it is said there is a lot of discussion of jihad in the religion of Islam.

The concept comes to the fore when despite having the right intentions and doing the right thing, nobody understands or reciprocates, then it is said one can use force, he said.

“It is not just in Quran, but in Mahabharata also, the part in Gita, Shri Krishna also talks of jihad to Arjun and this thing is not just in Quran or Gita but also in Christianity,” he claimed in his remarks in Hindi.

Also read: Kerala HC rejects ‘love jihad’ claims; allows Jyolsna and Shejin to live together

“If after explaining everything, people are not understanding, they are coming with weapons then you cannot run, you cannot call that jihad and you cannot call it wrong, this is what must be understood, there should not be this concept of making people understand with weapons in hand,” the 87-year-old leader said.

Patil further said Kidwai’s book also talks about respecting all religions while following your own. He also said there is a need for peace in the world.

Hitting out at the Congress over Patil’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said in a tweet, “After AAPs Gopal Italia & Rajendra Pal, not to be outdone in Hindu hatred & votebank politics, Congress Shivraj Patil says Shri Krishna taught Jihad to Arjun! Congress coined Hindu/Saffron terror, opposed Ram Mandir,Questioned Ram JIs existence, said Hindutva=ISIS (sic),” Poonawalla tweeted.

Also read: Israeli airstrike kills 2nd top Islamic Jihad commander

“This Hindu hatred is not a sanyog but a Votebank ka Prayog – it is a deliberate ploy before Gujarat polls to polarise a votebank. Earlier “Janeudhari” Rahul Gandhi also said things about Hindutva; said LeT less dangerous than Hindu groups; Digvijaya blamed 26/11 on Hindus,” he wrote in another tweet.

After AAP’s Gopal Italia & Rajendra Pal, not to be outdone in Hindu hatred & votebank politics,Congress’ Shivraj Patil says Shri Krishna taught “Jihad” to Arjun!

Congress coined Hindu/Saffron terror, opposed Ram Mandir,Questioned Ram JI’s existence, said Hindutva = ISIS 1/n pic.twitter.com/Xiw7v4mgHa

— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) October 20, 2022

In his speech, Patil also said he voted for Mallikarjun Kharge in the Congress presidential polls. He, however, mistakenly referred to Kharge as Khandelwal a couple of times in the speech.

Patil spoke at length and talked about disparate topics in his address.