The BJP appears to have found an unexpected ally in Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s new book on Ayodhya, which was released on Thursday. Khurshid’s views were criticised by Ghulam Nabi Azad, a party colleague, who called a controversial section “factually wrong”.

“We may not agree with Hindutva as a political ideology but comparing it with ISIS and Jihadist Islam is factually wrong and exaggeration,” Azad told NDTV, opening up about the debated passage in Khurshid’s ”Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times”. 

“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,” Khurshid wrote. 

The BJP accused him of equating religion with radical Islamic groups, causing religious grievances that deserved legal action, and demanded his dismissal from the Congress. They even went after Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, urging her to explain herself “if she respects Hindus”.

Azad was the first to speak up about the issue in Congress. Their allegiances have placed them in opposing camps even within the party. While Mr. Khurshid is a known Gandhi supporter, Mr. Azad joined the G-23 dissenting camp last year. 

Party stalwarts like Kapil Sibal and Sashi Tharoor were among the dissenting leaders who wrote the explosive letter to Sonia Gandhi, signalling a shift in leadership and demanding sweeping organisational changes.

Salman Khurshid was among the first to react, saying “Being excluded from power is not to be casually embraced in public life but if it is the result of principled politics it should be accepted with honour… If we are explicitly or implicitly willing to compromise with our principles to regain power we might as well pack up our bags”.