4 hrs ago
VHP Seeks Apology After Agnihotri’s ‘Tax Religion’ Remarks
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri shared a video showing many people visiting Kainchi Dham.
He said that if religion were taxed, people might focus more on ideas and progress instead.
He also said people should not wait for miracles to become successful.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad, or VHP, disagreed with him.
Its spokesperson, Vinod Bansal, said pilgrimages are important to Hindu culture and communities.
He also pointed out that religious places support local economies.
Bansal questioned Agnihotri’s comment about a religion tax and compared it with film tax exemptions.
He asked Agnihotri to take back his words and apologise.
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri reposted footage of crowds visiting Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand.
Agnihotri wrote that taxing religion could lead people to focus more on innovation, progress, productivity and ideas.
He also said people would stop waiting for miracles or divine intervention and try to become rich themselves.
VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal said the remarks unfairly pitted religion against progress and dismissed the importance of pilgrimages.
Bansal asked Agnihotri to withdraw his statement and apologise, and questioned whether it was connected to a film promotion.
- Who
- Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri and Vishva Hindu Parishad spokesperson Vinod Bansal.
- What
- Bansal criticised Agnihotri’s remarks about taxing religion and asked him to withdraw them and apologise.
- Where
- The crowd footage was from Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand; the comments were posted on X.
- When
- The VHP response was reported on Wednesday; the footage Agnihotri reposted showed a crowd on October 4.
- Why
- Bansal said Agnihotri’s remarks disparaged Hindu pilgrimages and wrongly contrasted religion with innovation and productivity.
VHP’s criticism
Agnihotri’s stated view
Religion and progress
VHP’s criticism
Bansal said Agnihotri wrongly pitted religion against innovation and productivity, and characterised pilgrimages as waiting for miracles.
Agnihotri’s stated view
Agnihotri argued that if religion were taxed, people would focus on innovation, progress, productivity and ideas rather than waiting for miracles.
Role of pilgrimage sites
VHP’s criticism
Bansal said pilgrimage sites are central to India’s civilisation, culture and social life, and support local economies.
Agnihotri’s stated view
Agnihotri’s post used the crowded pilgrimage as an example in an argument for people to pursue material success themselves.
Key facts
- Filmmaker
- Vivek Agnihotri, director of The Kashmir Files.
- Organisation responding
- The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).
- VHP spokesperson
- Vinod Bansal.
- Pilgrimage site
- Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand.
- Platform
- X.
- VHP request
- Bansal asked Agnihotri to withdraw his statement and apologise.
- Agnihotri's argument
- He said taxing religion could prompt people to focus on innovation, progress, productivity and ideas.
Quotes
Vinod Bansal
VHP national spokesperson
“Why describe the pilgrimages of crores of Hindus as 'waiting for miracles' and pit religion against innovation and productivity? Pilgrimage sites are the soul of India. They are not merely places of worship; they are deeply connected with our civilisation, culture, social life and local economies.”
livemint.com
“It would be appropriate for you to reconsider your words and, keeping in mind the sentiments of crores of devout Hindus, withdraw your statement and apologise.”
livemint.com
Sources
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