BJP will not go back on Hindutva: Venkaiah

The BJP will not go back on its core ideology of Hindutva in wake of the jolt it suffered in the recent general elections, a senior leader said in Hyderabad on Thursday.

"There is no question of going back on our ideology. We should not change it because of the electoral setback," Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here.

The BJP leader made the statement when asked whether the party would review its 'Hindutva ideology' and commitment to issues like common civil code and Article 370 in the wake of its dismal performance in the hustings.

BJP president Rajnath Singh and senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi had earlier clarified that the party need not give up its ideology or sever ties with the Sangh Parivar in wake of the poll defeat.

Naidu said BJP shares an "eternal relationship" with RSS, which he described as a "cultural and national organisation."

Hindutva is not a political or religious issue but a way of life in the country, passed on from generations, he said.

On BJP president Rajnath Singh's recent directive to the party leaders, he said the party president has not issued any gag order but only reminded that internal issues have to be discussed in party forum.