“Congress Ecosystem Whitewashes Atrocities”: BJP Slams Hamid Ansari Over Mahmud of Ghazni Remarks

Delhi: A fresh political row has erupted after former Vice President Hamid Ansari’s comments on Mahmud of Ghazni triggered strong reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Senior BJP leaders on Friday accused Ansari of misrepresenting history and downplaying the role of medieval invasions that, according to them, caused large-scale destruction in India.

The controversy began after a video clip of Ansari’s remarks surfaced on social media. In the clip, Ansari is heard questioning the way historical figures are labelled as foreign invaders, suggesting that several rulers commonly portrayed as outsiders were, in fact, part of the Indian subcontinent’s political landscape.

Reacting sharply, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the statement reflected a repeated attempt to “sanitize” historical violence.
“The Congress ecosystem always tries to whitewash atrocities committed against Hindus. Now we see Mahmud of Ghazni being described in a way that ignores the pain linked to temple destruction, including Somnath,” he said.

Poonawalla also widened the attack to target the Congress leadership, alleging selective outrage and misplaced priorities. He accused the party of remaining silent on issues of national importance while defending narratives that hurt public sentiment.
“This mindset shows whose side they stand on. National interest and historical truth are repeatedly compromised,” he added.

Joining the criticism, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi termed the remarks “deeply troubling” and said glorifying or softening the image of invaders sends a wrong message to society. According to him, history should be examined honestly and not reshaped to suit political convenience.

The BJP also used the occasion to criticise Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of avoiding key national events while his party leaders debate sensitive historical narratives.