Congress leader Salman Khurshid's house in Nainital was vandalised and set ablaze on Monday, 15 November, a few days after his new book on Ayodhya titled Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times sparked a controversy by equating 'Hindutva' to terrorist Islamist organisations.
Khurshid shared images of his burning home on Facebook as two men are also visible in their attempts, using water, to put out the fire.
His post read, "I hoped to open these doors to my friends who have left this calling card. Am I still wrong to say this cannot be Hinduism?"
Meanwhile, DGI (Kumaun) Neelesh Anand was quoted by ANI as saying: "Rakesh Kapil and 20 others have been booked. Strict action will be taken against perpetrators."
The paragraph from the book that has caused public furore reads, "Sanatan Dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints were being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to the jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years."
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed Khurshid's views, alleging that they have hurt Hindu sentiments and the Congress party is playing "communal politics" to gain Muslim votes.
Khurshid has also received criticism from his own party members, such as Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Last week, BJP leader Ram Kadam filed a police complaint against Khurshid over the above mentioned paragraphs in the latter's book.
Khurshid, however, has claimed that his book promotes Hindu-Muslim unity.
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