Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chief Ghulam Nabi Azad has sparked an argument by saying {that a} majority of Indian Muslims have transformed from Hinduism, reported information company PTI.

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The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister was addressing a gathering in Doda district the place he was making an remark in regards to the historic context of religions in India.

“Some BJP leader said some (Muslims) have come from outside and some have not. Nobody has come from outside or inside. Islam came to existence just 1,500 years ago. Hindu religion is very old. Around 10-20 of them (Muslims) must have come from outside, some were there in the Mughal army,” Azad stated.

“All other Muslims converted from Hinduism in India. An example of this can be found in Kashmir. Who were the Muslims in Kashmir 600 years ago? All were Kashmiri Pandits. They converted to Islam. All are born into this religion,” he added.

Naming completely different communities, Azad stated all of them have made India their dwelling. “It is our home, we haven’t come from outside. We were born on this soil and will perish in it,” he emphasised.

Azad stated that when Hindus die, they’re cremated. “They are burnt in different places. Their ashes are placed in the river which mixes the water, and we drink that water,” he stated.

“Similarly Muslims’ flesh and bones become a part of the nation’s soil. They, too, become a part of this land. Their flesh become a part of Bharat Mata’s soil. Hindus and Muslims both merge into this land. What difference is there between them?” he stated.

Meanwhile, senior BJP chief and former deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta agreed with Azad’s views and stated the folks used to practise Hinduism earlier than “invaders” introduced in different religions. “The timeline given by Azad about the inception of Islam in India is true,” he stated.

Gupta additional stated that unveiling the historical past of Kashmir would additionally reveal that round 600 years in the past, there was no Muslim in Kashmir and everybody there was a Hindu.

However, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti took a dig at Azad and stated, “I don’t know how far back he went (in time) and what knowledge he has about his ancestors. I would advise him to go way back and maybe he will find some apes there in the ancestors.”

Further, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha opined, “Humanity should take precedence over all other considerations – whether it be religion, borders, nationality, or civilization.”

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On September 26, 2022, Azad launched his personal political wing, the ‘Democratic Progressive Azad Party,’ following his departure from the Congress social gathering after serving nearly 5 a long time. The former Congress chief has been criticising the grand previous social gathering ever since his resignation.

(With inputs from businesses)