<p>Union minister Anantkumar Hegde said ‘Manusmruti’ was the “first constitution” and criticised intellectuals “sold out to foreign powers” for not accepting it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking at an event in Bengaluru on Sunday, the Minister of State for Skill Development said it was characteristic of Hindutva to accept the truth as its followers accept good ideas regardless of caste or creed. “Intellectuals do not understand it. They do not accept that Manusmruti is the first constitution. They try to weaken Hindutva and we should condemn it,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hegde, whose statement that BJP came to power to change the Constitution had led to a controversy, said Hindutva was not a poll plank and blamed secularism for separating Hindus from their religion. “Muslims and Christians proudly talk about their religions but Hindus have lost touch with their roots because we are secular. We become traitors if we talk about our religion because intellectuals have set such parameters,” he said. Describing Hindutva as a “great way of life” in the world, he said it was not just a tradition or custom. During the event, a Kannada translation of V D Savarkar’s ‘Hindutva’ was released.</p>
<p>Union minister Anantkumar Hegde said ‘Manusmruti’ was the “first constitution” and criticised intellectuals “sold out to foreign powers” for not accepting it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking at an event in Bengaluru on Sunday, the Minister of State for Skill Development said it was characteristic of Hindutva to accept the truth as its followers accept good ideas regardless of caste or creed. “Intellectuals do not understand it. They do not accept that Manusmruti is the first constitution. They try to weaken Hindutva and we should condemn it,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Hegde, whose statement that BJP came to power to change the Constitution had led to a controversy, said Hindutva was not a poll plank and blamed secularism for separating Hindus from their religion. “Muslims and Christians proudly talk about their religions but Hindus have lost touch with their roots because we are secular. We become traitors if we talk about our religion because intellectuals have set such parameters,” he said. Describing Hindutva as a “great way of life” in the world, he said it was not just a tradition or custom. During the event, a Kannada translation of V D Savarkar’s ‘Hindutva’ was released.</p>
