New Delhi: Asserting that India was secular "because of hindutva", Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani has sought to differentiate between a "Hindu rashtra" and a theocratic state.

Commenting on controversy over his recent statement in Parliament during a discussion on Gujarat events wherein he said that India could never become a theocratic state, he said, "What I said was incorrectly reported as I having said that we are not a Hindu rashtra".

Hindu rashtra and a theocratic state are "two different concepts meaning absolutely different things", Advani told the latest edition of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) mouthpiece 'Organiser' in an interview.

"The concept of Hindu rashtra is not a political philosophy. It has nothing to do with the political administration of the country," he said.

Emphasising that in the political and administrative sphere "there is no scope for religion", he said, "But one thing is clear -- India is secular because of hindutva."

Advani pointed out that the framers of the Constitution had not considered it necessary to mention in its Preamble that we are secular as "it went without saying so".

"In the real sense of the term, secularism is showing equal respect to all forms of worship and the state considering all its subjects equal without patronising those professing a certain method of worship," he said.

Noting that a majority of the people in the country are Hindus, Advani said, "Hinduism collectively represents the culture and the basic ethos of this country" and "this is what the Supreme Court has meant" by saying in one its judgements that "Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life".

"We are secular because we have inherited this worldview. The idea of secularism comes naturally to us," he said, adding, "in fact, Hindu rashtra and theocratic state are contradictory".

The Deputy Prime Minister maintained that Hindu was "traditionally liberal" in approach towards "matters of state and society" and that Mahatma Gandhi's "liberal views" appealed to the common Hindu more than the views of political parties like Hindu Maha Sabha.

"Gandhiji commanded the respect of all Hindus. But one must admit that Gandhiji could not capture the imagination of the Muslims," he said, adding Jinnah was "successful in creating a fear complex in the minds of the Muslims and pave the way for partition on religious grounds."

Talking of "cultural nationalism", the Deputy Prime Minister said that even Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had in an address to AICC (All India Congress Committee) session in Madurai stated that the practice of interlinking the country through cultural exchanges had kept India together.

PTI