Asked if he backs Hindu Rashtra, Kamal Nath points to 82% majority

When asked if he supported Shahstri's demand for a Hindu rashtra, Nath said, “Everyone has their own views. Today if 82 per cent are Hindus in our country, then what nation is this? If 82 per cent are Hindus? I am secular. I am what is written in our Constitution.”

Written by Anand Mohan J

Bhopal | Updated: August 8, 2023 11:59 AM IST

3 min read

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath. (Express Archive)

Listen to this article

Your browser does not support the audio element.

If 82 per cent of the country is made up of Hindus then what nation are we, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath said on Monday when asked if he supported the demand for a Hindu Rashtra by Bageshwar Dham chief priest Dhirender Shastri.

Nath was speaking at a press conference on Monday after the three-day Hanuman Katha organised by the Congress in Nath’s stronghold of Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh concluded. When asked if he supported Shahstri’s demand for a Hindu rashtra, Nath said, “Everyone has their own views. Today if 82 per cent are Hindus in our country, then what nation is this? If 82 per cent are Hindus? I am secular. I am what is written in our Constitution.”

The preachings of the 27-year-old Shastri, popularly referred to as ‘Bageshwar Baba’, are often laced with controversial statements. He routinely makes demands for the establishment of Hindu Rashtra and has organised ‘Ghar Wapsi’ events at Bageshwar Dham, his home base, in Chhatarpur district.

After the conclusion of the katha, Nath said, “Maharaj ji, don’t think you can get rid of me in the future. There are different types of relationships. But the relationship between Maharaj and I, is the relationship of Hanuman. Everyone here is a witness, no one can raise their finger on me. Maharaj ji you will go to many places but you won’t get a place like Chhindwara…today we respect every religion. We all respect our religion. I am a Hindu, I say this with a lot of pride. I feel happy that the people of Chhindwara, were granted this good fortune, that you came here. But in the end I want to say, you leave us hungry. Please come again, but our hunger won’t be satiated.”

In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress has not shied away from playing the soft Hindutva card to negate the BJP’s advantage and shield itself from the accusation of being an ‘anti-Hindu party’.

After the conclusion of the katha, Shastri addressed the media and said that he wanted to be kept away from politics. He also said that Gyanvapi was not a mosque but a Shiva’s temple and that the violence at Nuh was “misfortune of this country” witnessed by Hindus and asked them to awaken.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

Tags:

Kamal Nath Political Pulse