‘BJP’s Favourite Nationalist’ Vivek Agnihotri Faces VHP Criticism Over Religious Faith Remarks

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri has drawn criticism from the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) over his remarks suggesting that taxing religion could encourage people in India to focus more on innovation, productivity and economic progress.
 

The controversy began on October 4, when Agnihotri shared a video on X showing a large gathering of devotees at Kainchi Dham in Uttarakhand, a temple associated with Neem Karoli Baba.
 

Reacting to the footage, the filmmaker suggested that India could become the world’s richest country overnight if the government imposed a tax on religion.
 

“Not because people would pay the tax. But because they would quit religion and start focusing on innovation, progress, productivity and ideas,” Agnihotri wrote.
 

He added that people would begin working towards becoming wealthy themselves rather than waiting for miracles or divine intervention.
 

His comments received mixed reactions on social media, with the VHP strongly objecting to what it viewed as an attempt to portray religious faith as a barrier to innovation and economic development.
 

VHP Questions Agnihotri’s Views on Religion
 

VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal criticised Agnihotri for drawing a comparison between religion and innovation. He argued that pilgrimage sites were closely linked to India’s civilisation, cultural heritage, social life and local economies.
 

Bansal also questioned the filmmaker’s position on taxation, pointing out that the film industry seeks tax exemptions for movies while Agnihotri was advocating a tax on religion.
 

He urged the filmmaker to withdraw his comments and apologise, saying the remarks could hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees.
 

Agnihotri Targets Religious Superstitions
 

The dispute intensified after Agnihotri responded to the criticism with another post on X. He urged people not to share their knowledge of religion, particularly Hinduism, on the platform, sarcastically suggesting that “everyone here is already wise”.
 

Referring to the Upanishads, Hindu philosophers and Swami Vivekananda, Agnihotri questioned how they would have viewed contemporary discussions surrounding religion.
 

He also criticised what he described as superstition, claims of miracles, unscientific interpretations of religious teachings and crowds visiting religious places to create social media reels.
 

“As for the rest — superstitions, miracles, unscientific definitions, and the crowds gathered to make reels — if you consider that to be Hinduism, then by all means continue with your faith,” he wrote.
 

He added, “After all, there’s no cure for delusion anyway.”
 

VHP Responds to Filmmaker’s Latest Remarks
 

Agnihotri’s latest comments prompted another sharp response from Bansal, who questioned why the filmmaker appeared to focus on such practices within Hinduism while, according to the VHP spokesperson, similar practices could also be seen at mazars, madrasas, churches and healing gatherings.
 

Bansal said those commenting on religion should first seek knowledge from respected saints and scholars.
 

He also turned Agnihotri’s remark about delusion back on the filmmaker, arguing that people should examine their own views before making such observations about others.
 

The VHP spokesperson further questioned whether Agnihotri’s remarks were connected to the promotion of an upcoming film. He maintained that the same Hindu audience, which he described as religious and nationalist, had supported the filmmaker’s movies.
 

The exchange has brought the debate over religion, superstition, cultural traditions and economic progress into the spotlight, with Agnihotri defending his views on religious practices and the VHP demanding that he reconsider his remarks.