Row after Congress leader says Lord Krishna gave jihad lessons to Arjuna in Mahabharata

Veteran Indian National Congress leader and former Indian minister Shivraj Patil has stoked a controversy by remarking that the concept of 'jihad' is mentioned in Bhagavad Gita, adding that Lord Krishna gave lessons on it to Arjuna during the Mahabharata war.

The 87-year-old former Indian home minister, who was speaking at the launch of the biography of another veteran party leader and former minister Mohsina Kidwai in New Delhi, said, "It is said there's a lot of discussion on jihad in Islam. Even after all the efforts, if someone doesn't understand the clean idea, power can be used. It's mentioned in Quran and Gita."

"Shri Krishna gave lessons of jihad to Arjuna in a part of Gita in Mahabharat," he added.

Top Congress leaders such as Shashi Tharoor, who recently contested the party's presidential election and lost; Digvijaya Singh; and Sushil Kumar Shinde were present at the event besides Farooq Abdullah, the National Conference leader from Jammu and Kashmir and a former chief minister of the erstwhile state.

India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was quick to react to Patil's remarks with its spokesperson Shehzad Jai Hind accusing Patil's party of "Hindu hatred" and opposing the existence of Lord Ram.

"After AAP’s Gopal Italia and Rajendra Pal, not to be outdone in Hindu hatred and votebank politics, Congress’ Shivraj Patil says Shri Krishna taught jihad to Arjun!" he tweeted.

"Rahul Gandhi also said things about Hindutva; said LeT less dangerous than Hindu groups; Digvijaya blamed 26/11 on Hindus," he said, adding that "Hindu hatred" is a deliberate ploy before the Gujarat elections to polarise the vote-bank.

Patil clarifies the next day

On Friday (21), Patil spoke out again on the issue. He told the media, "It is you who is calling it jihad."

Visibly irked, Patil said that it is non-sensical to say that he was equating the teachings of Gita as 'jihad'.

When he was asked what term he would use to describe Lord Krishna asking Arjuna to fight in the war, Patil said, "There is no need for him to call it anything. Lord Krishna told Arjuna 'it is your duty' and you must perform that duty".

"I was asking a question and not making a statement, but the media is vilifying me," he added.