Nainital (Uttarakhand): Amid the controversy over former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid's book 'Sunrise over Ayodhya', the Nainital residence of the Congress leader was vandalized on Monday. Following the incident, police have reached the spot. It is believed that the act of vandalization was performed by the activists of Hindu organizations.
DGI (Kumaun) Neelesh Anand told the news agency that several people have been booked in connection with the incident. "Rakesh Kapil and 20 others have been booked. Strict action will be taken against perpetrators," he said. Sharing pictures and videos on Facebook, Khurshid wrote, "I hoped to open these doors to my friends who have left this calling card. Am I still wrong to say this cannot be Hinduism?"
Soon after the incident, Khurshid posted a video on his Facebook account in which flames, charred doors, and shattered window panes have been seen. In the video two people can also be seen dousing out the fire.
Sharing the video, the leader wrote "I hoped to open these doors to my friends who have left this calling card. Am I still wrong to say this cannot be Hinduism, So such is a debate now Shame is too ineffective a word. Besides I still hope that we can reason together one day and agree to disagree if not more."
As per media persons on the ground, some people also raised slogans and flags outside Khurshid's residence today. Condemning the incident, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor termed it is "disgraceful" and called Khurshid a "statesman who has done India proud in international forums."
"This is disgraceful. Salman Khurshid is a statesman who has done India proud in international forums and always articulated a moderate, centrist, inclusive vision of the country domestically. The mounting levels of intolerance in our politics should be denounced by those in power," Tharoor tweeted.
At the same time, reacting over the matter Senior Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, there is no place of violence in democracy. BJP does politics of hate, that is why such incidents are happening. I strongly condemn the arson in Salman Khurshid's house in Nainital. I and Khurshid are being targeted, He has been constantly threatened and I have been abused over the phone."
Read: ISIS and Hindutva are similar, not same: Salman Khurshid clarifies controversy over his new book
The Congress leader got embroiled in controversy after he recently launched his new book 'Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times.' Several political leaders have condemned Khurshid for his new book including Union Ministers.
Two Delhi lawyers have filed complaints on Thursday with Delhi Police against Khurshid, for allegedly defaming and comparing Hinduism with terrorism in his book which was released last week. Advocate Vivek Garg in his complaint is seeking to file a case against Khurshid.
The complaint alleges that senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid has compared Hindutva to radical terrorist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram. Meanwhile, advocate Vineet Jindal in his complaint said that the statement published in the said book is not only instigating and provoking but also stirring emotions among followers of the Hindu religion.
Khurshid's new book on the Ayodhya verdict was released last week. It explored the Apex Court's landmark judgment on the Ayodhya dispute. Senior Congress leader Khurshid has compared Hindutva to radical terrorist groups like "ISIS and Boko Haram".
