FORMER Union Home Minister and Congress veteran Shivraj Patil has stoked controversy with his recent claim that the concept of ‘jihad’ finds mention not only in the Quran but in the Bhagwad Gita and in Christianity as well. At a book launch event in the national capital on Thursday, Patil said that Lord Krishna also taught lessons of ‘jihad’ to Arjun in a part of Gita in the Mahabharat.

Patil’s remarks have drawn flak from the BJP which has hit out at the Congress for “Hindu hatred” and “votebank politics.” BJP, said that this is one more attempt by the Opposition party to smear Hindutva. The Congress said the remarks made by Shivraj Patil on the Bhagavad Gita were unacceptable and asserted the scripture was a key foundational pillar of Indian civilisation.

“It’s said there is a lot of discussion on Jihad in Islam religion... Even after all efforts, if someone doesn’t understand clean ideas, then power can be used. It is not just in the Quran Sharif, but also in the Mahabharata of which Gita is a part,” Patil said. International Joint General Secretary of VHP Surendra Kumar Jain hit out at Patil for drawing a link between jihad and the Bhagwad Gita stating that the Congress leaders can go to any extend for the “appeasement of Muslims.”