TIA NEWS /

Government of India does not know the meaning and the definition of the word ‘Hindu’ and its origin. Union Home Ministry in reply to an RTI query by Chandrashekhar Gaur, a resident of Neemuch, in Madhya Pradesh, said that it “does have any information” regarding the definition of ‘Hindu’, the most widely practiced religion in the country.

To his query under RTI about the meaning and definition of the word Hindu in the light of the Indian Constitution and the law, the Home Ministry in its reply on July 31 said “the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) doesn’t have information regarding it.”

Mr Gaur also sought to know on what grounds a community was considered Hindu, and why Hindus were considered to be a majority community.

The government’s reply was baffling, he said.

“If the government doesn’t know the meaning and definition of the word Hindu, on what basis did it enact the Hindu Marriage Act?” he questioned.