Word 'Hindu' never existed in Vedas, Upanishads; Muslims invented it: Veerappa Moily

Bangalore: Former union minister and Congress leader Veerappa Moily has triggered a fresh controversy through his recent remark that the word 'Hindu' was introduced by Muslims in the medieval age and that it has no mention in the ancient scriptures like Vedas and Upanishads.

During a book launch event at Central College in Bangalore on September 21, the ex-Karnataka chief minister said that in the medieval age Muslims wanted to separate people living in India from them and so invented the word 'Hindu'.

He also said that the Indians were the first ones to denounce caste system, but the system is still prevalent in the country. He further urged the Centre to introduce new laws that can abolish cast system immediately.

However, his remarks did not go down well with former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, who while slamming his statement, said that such issues from ancient and medieval era should not be brought to the present.

Besides Gowda, Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik also came down heavily on Moily for making such remarks.