"Not right to call Hindus violent...": Swami Avdheshanand Giri on Rahul Gandhi's remarks

New Delhi [India], July 1 : Swami Avdheshanand Giri on Monday condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks pertaining to the Hindu community and demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi, adding that the latter has "defamed and insulted" the entire society.
Lok Sabha witnessed an uproar over Rahul Gandhi's remarks pertaining to the Hindu community with Union Home Minister Amit Shah saying that the Congress leader should apologise for his remarks.
"Hindus see God in everyone, Hindus are non-violent, accommodative and generous. Hindus say that the whole world is their family and they should always pray for everyone's welfare, happiness and respect. It is not right to call Hindus violent or to say that they spread hatred. By saying such things, you are defaming and insulting the entire society. Hindu society is very liberal and it is such a society which is all-inclusive and respects everyone. Rahul Gandhi repeatedly says that Hindus are violent and that Hindus create hatred," Giri said in a self-made video on Monday.
"I condemn these words of his. He should take back these words. The whole society is hurt and there is anger in the saint community... He should apologize for this," he added.
Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's Address, Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP-led government and alleged there has been "a systematic attack" on the idea of India.
"There has been a systematic and full-scale assault on the idea of India, the Constitution and on the people who resisted the attack on the Constitution. Many of us were personally attacked. Some of the leaders are still in jail. Anyone who resisted the idea of concentration of power and wealth, aggression on poor and Dalits and minorities was crushed. ..I was attacked by the order of the Government of India, by the order of the Prime Minister of India...The most enjoyable part of it was the 55 hours of interrogation by ED...," he alleged.
"Abhayamudra is the symbol of Congress...The Abhayamudra is the gesture of fearlessness, is the gesture of reassurance and safety, which dispels fear and accords divine protection and bliss in Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and other Indian religions...All our great men have spoken about non-violence and finishing fear...But, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth...Aap Hindu ho hi nahi," the Congress leader said.
Home Minister Amit Shah targeted Rahul Gandhi and said connecting violence with any religion is wrong.
"The Leader of Opposition has categorically said that those who call themselves Hindu talk of violence and do violence. He doesn't know that crores of people proudly call themselves Hindu. Connecting violence with any religion is wrong. He should apologise," Amit Shah said.
Rahul Gandhi also said the BJP is not the entire Hindu society.
"Narendra Modi is not the entire Hindu society. BJP is not the entire Hindu society, RSS is not the entire society, this is not BJP's contract," Rahul Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi also alleged that ministers were scared of greeting him in the presence of PM Modi.
The Prime Minister took a dig at Rahul Gandhi over his remarks and said democracy has taught him to take democracy seriously.
"Democracy and the Constitution have taught me that I need to take the Leader of Opposition seriously," PM Modi said.
Rahul Gandhi, who made his first speech as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, also attacked the government over the Agniveer scheme.