All individuals were initially associated with Hinduism in our Hindustan - Ghulam Nabi Azad

Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir & former Senior leader of Cogress party Ghulam Nabi Azad, has sparked the age old debate on the historical backdrop of religions in India, with his remarks.

In a viral video, getting circulated on various social media platforms captures the former Congress leader sharing his perspective that "all individuals were initially associated with Hinduism in our Hindustan."

"Around 1,500 years ago, Islam emerged, whereas Hinduism has ancient roots. Some Muslims may have migrated from external lands and participated in the Mughal army. Consequently, conversions from Hinduism to Islam occurred within the Indian subcontinent.", said Azad, reportedly, addressing a gathering in the Thathri region of Doda district.

He continued, "A notable case can be observed in Kashmir, where the predominant population consisted of Kashmiri Pandits six centuries ago before a substantial conversion to Islam took place. This leads me to conclude that, at the outset, our shared heritage is rooted in Hinduism. Whether identified as Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, Brahmin, Dalit, Kashmiri, or Gujjar, our common origins link us to this land. Our ancestral connections are deeply embedded here, and it is to this land that we shall return beyond this life," Azad's statement emphasized.