Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized Indian National Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his recent remarks regarding the Manusmriti [1].
The exchange highlights the deep ideological divide in India regarding the intersection of religious texts and modern law. By framing the debate around religious consistency, Sarma is challenging the opposition's approach to social reform and legal critique.
During an interview with Times Now, Sarma said Gandhi's comments were a "selective attack on Hinduism" [1]. He said that focusing exclusively on the Manusmriti ignores similar issues present in other personal laws [2].
Sarma questioned why Gandhi had not addressed the tenets of Islam and Sharia law [3]. He said that the focus on one specific religious text while ignoring others represents a biased critique of Hindu law [2].
The Chief Minister suggested that a fair assessment of legal mindsets would require an equal examination of all religious codes. He asked, "What about Sharia?" while discussing the mindset Gandhi attributed to the Manusmriti [3].
This public disagreement follows a pattern of escalating rhetoric between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress party over cultural and religious identity. Sarma said that the critique of the Manusmriti is not an objective legal analysis but a targeted political move [2].
“Selective attack on Hinduism”
This dispute reflects the broader political strategy in India where debates over ancient texts are used to mobilize voters along religious lines. By pivoting the conversation toward Sharia law, Sarma is attempting to shift the narrative from a critique of Hindu social hierarchy to a broader argument about secularism and the equal application of criticism across all faiths.
